Ethan Clarke
The introduction of plastic in the UK occurred in several stages, with the first man-made plastic being created by Birmingham-born inventor Alexander Parkes and patented in 1862 as Parkesine. However, the Plastics Age is typically associated with the 20th century, when entirely synthetic plastics were developed and commercialised. One of the earliest examples of a fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907. The first commercial production of polyethylene in the UK was achieved by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), which also introduced Perspex in 1932. The postwar years marked a shift in perceptions towards plastics, with growing concerns about plastic debris in the oceans and environmental issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First man-made plastic | Parkesine, publicly demonstrated in 1862 by Alexander Parkes |
| Material | Organic material derived from cellulose |
| Properties | Could be moulded when heated and retained its shape when cooled |
| Substitute | Ivory |
| First synthetic polymer | Invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt |
| First fully synthetic plastic | Bakelite, invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland |
| Invention of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) | 1941 by Whinfield and Dickson |
| Invention of first polyester fibre | 1941, called Terylene |
| Invention of high impact polystyrene as a commercial plastic | 1949 |
| Invention of first artificial heart made of polyurethane | 1982 |
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What You'll Learn
Alexander Parkes created the first man-made plastic in 1862
The Plastics Age, as the 20th and 21st centuries have been dubbed, was ushered in by Alexander Parkes, who created the first man-made plastic in 1862. Parkes, a Birmingham-born artisan and chemist, patented this new material as Parkesine, a name derived from his own. Parkesine was an organic material derived from cellulose that could be heated and moulded, retaining its shape once cooled. This early plastic was a cheap and colourful substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell, and it made items like combs and billiard balls affordable to the masses, democratising consumer goods and culture.
Parkes' invention was a breakthrough in human manufacturing, freeing people from the constraints of natural resources, which were becoming increasingly scarce in the wake of industrialised goods production. For example, the demand for ivory from elephants for items like piano keys and billiard balls was driving these animals to extinction. Similarly, the demand for tortoiseshell for combs was endangering turtle species.
Parkesine was not without its limitations, and it did not bring commercial success to Parkes himself. However, his invention was taken up and developed by others, including his former factory manager, Daniel Spill, and businessman John Wesley Hyatt, who founded the Celluloid Manufacturing Company in the US. Hyatt created celluloid as a substitute for ivory in billiard balls in 1868, and it soon became famous as the first flexible photographic film used for still photography and motion pictures.
The successes of Hyatt and later Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland, who created the first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, in 1907, spurred major chemical companies to invest in the research and development of new polymers. The plastics revolution was only getting started, and plastics would go on to become an essential part of daily life, with applications across industries and uses in everything from toothbrushes to aircraft windows.
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John Wesley Hyatt created celluloid in 1868
Plastic was introduced in the UK in 1862 by Alexander Parkes, who publicly demonstrated an organic material called Parkesine at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London. Parkesine, considered the first true plastic, was derived from cellulose and could be moulded when heated, retaining its shape when cooled.
Building on this, John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid in 1868. Hyatt, an American inventor, simplified the production of celluloid, and is included in the National Inventors Hall of Fame. He had nearly 238 patents to his credit, including improvements to sugar cane mills and water filtration devices. Hyatt was born in Starkey, New York, and began working as a printer at the age of 16.
Hyatt's invention of celluloid was motivated by the search for a substitute for ivory in the production of billiard balls. He experimented with Parkesine, adding camphor derived from the laurel tree to create a material strong enough for this purpose. This new celluloid could be moulded with heat and pressure into a durable shape, making it a commercially viable product. Hyatt patented his discovery in the United States in 1869 (US patent 50359) and formed the Albany Dental Plate Company in 1870 to produce items such as billiard balls, false teeth, and piano keys.
Celluloid's versatility extended beyond billiard balls, and it became renowned as the first flexible photographic film used for still photography and motion pictures. By 1900, celluloid was in high demand for movie film. Hyatt's discovery not only revolutionised the film industry but also laid the groundwork for the development of photographic film, which eventually replaced the photographic plate in the late 1880s.
While Hyatt is recognised for simplifying celluloid production, the true inventor of celluloid was the subject of a patent dispute with English inventor Daniel Spill, who had patented a similar compound in the UK as "Xylonite". The court ultimately ruled that while Parkes was the original inventor of celluloid, Hyatt and others could continue manufacturing it.
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Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, was created in 1907
The word "plastic" comes from the ancient Greek "plastikos," meaning "pliable and easily shaped." For millennia, humans have used materials with plastic properties, such as horn, tortoiseshell, amber, rubber, and shellac. However, the modern synthetic plastics we know today are a relatively recent invention.
In 1862, Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes created Parkesine, often considered the first plastic. Parkesine was an organic material derived from cellulose that could be heated, moulded, and hardened. However, it was not fully synthetic, as it was derived from natural materials.
It was not until 1907 that the first fully synthetic plastic was created. Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, a synthetic resin made using fossil fuels. Baekeland improved the phenol-formaldehyde reaction technique, creating a material that could be mass-produced and was commercially successful.
Bakelite was a revolutionary invention, as it was the first human-made material that contained no molecules found in nature. This discovery freed human manufacturing from the limits of nature and natural resources. It also helped protect the environment by reducing the demand for materials like ivory, which was endangering elephant populations.
Baekeland's invention of Bakelite sparked further research and development in the field of plastics. Chemical companies began investing in new polymers, and soon, many new plastics were realised and developed, offering a wide range of desirable properties. Today, plastics are ubiquitous and can be found in every aspect of our lives.
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The first polyester fibre, Terylene, was created in 1941
The history of plastic dates back to the mid-19th century when, in 1855 or 1862, Alexander Parkes created the first man-made plastic, known as Parkesine. This organic material, derived from cellulose, could be moulded when heated and retained its shape upon cooling. However, it was Leo Baekeland who created the first fully synthetic, mass-produced plastic called Bakelite in 1907. This marked a key breakthrough, leading to the development of various synthetic materials that we now recognise as modern plastics.
One such material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which was patented in 1941 by British chemists John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson. This invention built upon the early research of Wallace Carothers, who had discovered Nylon, the first synthetic fibre. Whinfield and Dickson, along with inventors W.K. Birtwhistle and C.G. Ritchie, created the first polyester fibre, Terylene, in 1941. This fibre was manufactured by Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI).
Terylene possessed qualities such as toughness, resistance to abrasion and sunlight, and resiliency, making it superior to Nylon in some ways. It was the first polyester fibre to be created, followed by Dupont's Dacron. The commercialisation of polyester fibres introduced the concept of 'drip dry' and 'non-iron' clothing, revolutionising the textile industry.
The development of Terylene was a significant milestone in the evolution of synthetic materials. It showcased the potential of synthetic fibres and paved the way for further innovations in the field of polymer chemistry. Terylene's unique properties and ease of care made it a popular choice, contributing to the widespread adoption of synthetic fabrics in various industries, including fashion and consumer goods.
Overall, the creation of Terylene in 1941 represented a pivotal moment in the history of synthetic materials, offering new possibilities and shaping the future of plastics and textiles.
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Nylon was invented in 1935
Plastic has been around in the UK in one form or another for over a century. The first man-made plastic was created by Alexander Parkes, who publicly demonstrated it at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London. This material, called Parkesine, was an organic material derived from cellulose.
Nylon, a synthetic thermoplastic polymer, was invented in 1935 by Wallace Hume Carothers at DuPont's research facility. The first nylon, nylon 66, was synthesised on February 28, 1935. Carothers and his team had originally set out to research commercial applications for polymers, which are now used in a wide range of products.
Nylon was a revolutionary product with a huge impact on the economy and women's fashion. It was strong and elastic, with a silk-like appearance, and could be melt-processed into fibres, films, and diverse shapes. Nylon had numerous commercial applications, including uses in textiles and fibres, such as apparel, flooring, and rubber reinforcement. It was also used in moulded components for automotive and electrical equipment.
The development of nylon spanned an eleven-year period, from the initial research program in polymers in 1927 to its announcement in 1938, shortly before the opening of the 1939 New York World's Fair. The creation of nylon was a significant milestone in the history of plastics, with DuPont quickly achieving a monopoly on the fibre.
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Frequently asked questions
The first man-made plastic was Parkesine, created by Birmingham-born inventor Alexander Parkes. It was patented in 1862 and publicly demonstrated at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London.
The first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907.
Bakelite was the first mass-produced plastic, with its creation in 1907 sparking a consumer boom in affordable yet desirable products.
Polyethylene is a plastic that is strong, flexible, and heat-resistant. It was first discovered by accident in 1933 by a team at the British company Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). It became the first commercial plastic produced in the UK.
