Ethan Clarke
The world's first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in New York in 1907 by Leo Baekeland, a Belgian-American chemist. However, the first plastic to be patented was Parkesine, invented by Alexander Parkes and patented in 1862. This was a semi-synthetic material derived from cellulose nitrate, which could be altered to make it rigid, soft, or rubber-like.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the first plastic | Parkesine |
| Year of patent | 1862 |
| Inventor | Alexander Parkes |
| Country of the inventor | United Kingdom |
| Composition | Cellulose nitrate |
| Properties | Transparent, flexible, could be moulded, shaped, coloured, and hardened |
| Uses | Buttons, combs, cutlery handles, piano keys, linen in clothing |
| First fully synthetic plastic | Bakelite |
| Year of invention | 1907 |
| Inventor | Leo Baekeland |
| Country of the inventor | Belgium |
| Composition | Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, a thermoset material formed by the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde |
| Properties | Heat resistant, electrical non-conductivity, could be shaped into almost anything |
| Uses | Radio and telephone casings, kitchenware, clocks, jewellery, toys, firearms |
| First patented PET plastic bottle | Nathaniel C. Wyeth, 1973 |
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What You'll Learn
Alexander Parkes' Parkesine, 1862
Alexander Parkes, born on 29 December 1813 in Birmingham, England, invented Parkesine, the first man-made plastic. Parkes was a metallurgist and inventor, and the son of a manufacturer of brass locks. He patented Parkesine, the first thermoplastic, in 1856. It was a celluloid based on nitrocellulose treated with a variety of solvents.
Parkes exhibited his invention at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, showcasing its potential through moulded household goods such as knife handles, combs, plaques, and medallions. Parkesine could be softened by heat and then placed in moulds or carved by hand, and it could also be painted or inlaid with ornamentation. It was much less expensive than its counterparts in leather or rubber, and it anticipated many of the modern aesthetic and utility uses of plastics.
Parkes took out numerous patents on Parkesine between 1855 and 1865, and in 1866, he founded the Parkesine Company for bulk low-cost production. However, his business was not commercially successful, as Parkesine was expensive to produce, prone to cracking, and highly flammable. The company closed in 1868.
Parkes' invention laid the foundation for subsequent advancements in plastic, with John Wesley Hyatt of the Hyatt Brothers in the United States discovering that mixing nitrate cellulose with camphor created a more pliable product. Despite not achieving commercial success, Alexander Parkes' development of Parkesine marked a significant milestone in the creation of synthetic plastics.
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John Wesley Hyatt's celluloid, 1869
John Wesley Hyatt was an American inventor and industrialist born on November 28, 1837, in Starkey, New York, US. He is known for simplifying and discovering a process for making celluloid, the first practical artificial plastic. He invented a simpler celluloid production process and received several hundred patents. He nearly had 238 patents to his credit, including improvements to sugar and the first injection moulding machine. He founded the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company in 1892 in Harrison, New Jersey.
Hyatt was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory. The growing popularity of billiards had put a strain on the supply of natural ivory obtained through the slaughter of wild elephants. By treating cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor, Hyatt discovered a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory. This discovery was revolutionary. For the first time, human manufacturing was not constrained by the limits of nature.
Hyatt and his brother Isaiah first attempted to market the plastic, which they patented in 1870 and dubbed Celluloid in 1872, as a substitute for hard rubber in denture plates. They moved their Celluloid Manufacturing Company from Albany to Newark, New Jersey, in 1872, where they put numerous patents to work in building what became the premier celluloid company in the world. The Hyatts concentrated on forming celluloid into sheets, rods, and other unfinished shapes, usually leaving their fabrication into practical objects to licensed companies.
The eventual decision was that the true inventor of celluloid was Alexander Parkes, but that all manufacturing of celluloid could continue, including Hyatt's. Hyatt was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1974.
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Bakelite, Leo Baekeland, 1907
The world's first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland, who is also credited with coining the term "plastics". Baekeland was a Belgian-born American chemist and inventor, born on 14 November 1863 in Ghent, Belgium. He displayed an early interest in science and chemistry, which led him to pursue higher education in these fields.
Baekeland's invention of Bakelite was the culmination of his search for a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural resin made from beetle shells that was used as a natural electrical insulator. Bakelite, however, offered more than just insulation; it was durable, heat resistant, and highly suited for mechanical mass production. It could be easily moulded into various shapes and colours, making it extremely versatile for products such as radios, telephones, jewellery, and kitchenware.
The creation of Bakelite marked a significant milestone in the history of materials science and industrial chemistry. As the first synthetic plastic, it laid the foundation for the development of countless other synthetic polymers. Baekeland's work profoundly impacted manufacturing, technology, and everyday life, earning him the title of "The Father of the Plastics Industry".
The process of creating Bakelite involves a chemical reaction called condensation polymerization. It is a condensation product of formaldehyde and phenol, produced at high temperature and pressure. This unique ability to retain its shape and structure after being moulded and cooled set Bakelite apart from other materials of its time.
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Polyethylene, 1930s
Polyethylene, a simple yet versatile polymer, is the most commonly produced plastic today. It is used in a wide range of applications, from food storage to children's toys, making it integral to modern life.
The story of polyethylene began in the 1930s with a series of accidental discoveries. On March 27, 1933, organic chemists R.O. Gibson and E.W. Fawcett, working for the Imperial Chemical Industries Research Laboratory, were testing various chemicals. To their surprise, they stumbled upon a white, waxy substance that resembled plastic. This substance, later identified as polyethylene, was formed through a reaction between ethylene and benzaldehyde in an autoclave. The scientists discovered that the loss of pressure during the experiment was partly due to a leak but mostly due to the polymerization process that had occurred, resulting in polyethylene.
The first patents for polyethylene were registered in 1936 by Imperial Chemical Industries. However, reproducing the experiment proved challenging due to the initial reaction being triggered by trace oxygen contamination in their apparatus. It wasn't until 1935 that another ICI chemist, Michael Perrin, developed a reproducible high-pressure synthesis process for polyethylene. This became the foundation for industrial low-density polyethylene (LDPE) production, which commenced in 1939. LDPE polyethylene is created through the polymerization of ethene (ethylene) gas, linking small identical molecules into larger chains. LDPE is known for its flexibility and is commonly used in packaging materials and electrical wire insulation.
During World War II, polyethylene played a crucial role in military applications. It was initially used as a coating for underwater cables, enabling long-distance communication, and later as an insulator for radar cables. Its lightweight and thin properties made it ideal for radar insulation on airplanes, reducing weight significantly. Polyethylene was a highly guarded secret during the war, and its importance to the war effort cannot be overstated.
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Nathaniel Wyeth's PET bottle, 1973
The world's first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland. However, the use of plastic polymers can be traced back to ancient times, with natural polymers like cellulose and casein being used for various purposes.
Nathaniel C. Wyeth, an American mechanical engineer and inventor, played a significant role in the history of plastics with his groundbreaking innovation in 1973. Wyeth joined DuPont in 1936 as a field engineer and became the company's first engineering fellow in 1963. In the mid-1970s, he developed a bottle made of polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET. This invention revolutionized the packaging of carbonated soft drinks.
Wyeth's PET bottle offered several advantages over its predecessors. Firstly, it was made of recyclable PET plastic, which was lighter than glass and virtually unbreakable. This made it ideal for storing both carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Additionally, unlike some other materials used for bottles, PET did not chemically contaminate the liquids inside. This feature, along with its strength and lightweight properties, contributed to its widespread adoption.
The PET bottle quickly became the standard packaging for carbonated soft drinks, with the two-liter size becoming particularly popular. Soon, the use of PET bottles expanded beyond soft drinks, and they were extensively adopted for packaging various liquid products. Over six million PET bottles are produced worldwide each year, demonstrating the enduring impact of Wyeth's invention.
Nathaniel Wyeth's contributions to the field of plastics were widely recognized. In 1981, he received the Society of Plastics Engineers' international award for outstanding achievement. He was also inducted into the Society of the Plastics Industry Hall of Fame in 1986. Wyeth's innovative spirit extended beyond plastics, and he invented or co-invented twenty-five products, including improvements in manufacturing processes, textiles, electronics, and mechanical devices.
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Frequently asked questions
The first plastic, Parkesine, was patented in 1862 by Alexander Parkes. It was made from cellulose nitrate and could be altered to make it rigid, soft, or rubber-like.
The first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland. It was patented in 1909.
Parkesine was used as a substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell in items such as buttons, combs, and handles for cutlery.
Bakelite was used for a wide range of items, including radio and telephone casings, kitchenware, clocks, jewelry, toys, and even firearms.
