Maya Ellison
The word plastic comes from the Greek word plastikós, meaning to mould or shape. It is a generic name given to a wide range of synthetic materials that come from natural, raw materials. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor to create a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes. However, most of the plastics we see and use every day are derived from crude oil and natural gases, which provide a cheap alternative to plastic made from plants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Original meaning of the word "plastic" | Pliable and easily shaped |
| Origin of the word "plastic" | Greek word "plastikós" |
| First manufactured plastic | Parkesine, patented in 1862 by Alexander Parkes |
| First synthetic polymer | Invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt |
| Raw materials used to make plastic | Crude oil, natural gas, salt, coal, cellulose |
| Synthetic polymers made from | Carbon atoms from petroleum and other fossil fuels |
| Bioplastics made from | Plant crops |
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What You'll Learn
The word 'plastic' comes from the Greek word 'plastikós'
The word "plastic" comes from the Greek word "plastikós", which means "to mould or shape". It is a generic name given to a wide range of synthetic materials that come from natural, raw materials.
The first manufactured plastic, Parkesine, was invented in 1862 by Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes. It was a cheap and colourful substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell, made from cellulose nitrate—cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids and then mixed with vegetable oil.
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor to create a plastic that could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances. This discovery was revolutionary, as it meant human manufacturing was no longer constrained by the limits of nature.
Over the last century and a half, humans have learned how to make synthetic polymers, sometimes using natural substances like cellulose, but more often using the plentiful carbon atoms provided by petroleum and other fossil fuels. Synthetic polymers are made up of long chains of atoms, arranged in repeating units, often much longer than those found in nature. It is the length of these chains and the patterns in which they are arrayed that make polymers strong, lightweight, and flexible.
Today, most plastics are produced from natural gas and petroleum, but a growing minority are produced from renewable resources like polylactic acid.
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Plastic was first invented in 1862
Plastic is a term used to describe materials that can be formed and moulded under heat and pressure. Polymers are the chemical class of materials that make up all modern plastics. The word polymer means "of many parts", and polymers are made of long chains of molecules.
The first plastic was invented in 1862 by Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes, who patented his material as Parkesine. It is considered the first manufactured plastic and was a cheap and colourful substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell. Parkesine was derived from a combination of natural cellulose and synthetic materials. Specifically, it was made from cellulose nitrate—cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids and then mixed with vegetable oil.
Parkes' invention did not enjoy commercial success, but it was developed further by others, including his former factory manager Daniel Spill and businessman John Wesley Hyatt, the latter of whom founded the Celluloid Manufacturing Company in the US. Hyatt's plastic was crafted from cellulose derived from cotton fibre with added camphor, which made it thinner and more malleable. This plastic could be crafted into a variety of shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory.
The first fully synthetic plastic was invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. He named his invention Bakelite, which was a thermoset material formed by the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde. Bakelite was a game-changer due to its heat-resistant properties, electrical non-conductivity, and ability to be shaped into almost anything.
Since the invention of plastic, humans have learned how to make synthetic polymers, sometimes using natural substances like cellulose, but more often using the plentiful carbon atoms provided by petroleum and other fossil fuels. Synthetic polymers are made up of long chains of atoms, often much longer than those found in nature, and their adaptability, combined with a wide range of other properties such as low weight, durability, and flexibility, has led to their widespread use around the world.
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The first plastic was made from cotton fibres, nitric and sulphuric acids, and vegetable oil
The 20th and 21st centuries have been dubbed the "Plastics Age", and for good reason. Plastics have become an integral part of our daily lives, from the pillows we sleep on to the toothbrushes we use and the keyboards we type on. But where did plastic originally come from?
The first plastic was invented by Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes, who patented his creation in 1862. Dubbed Parkesine, it was made from cellulose nitrate derived from cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids and then mixed with vegetable oil. This process was first discovered by German-Swiss chemist Christian Friedrich Schönbein in 1846 when he spilled a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids on his kitchen table and wiped it up with a cotton apron. When the apron dried, it ignited, revealing the flammable nature of nitrocellulose.
Parkes' plastic was a cheap and colourful substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell. While he did not personally enjoy commercial success, his invention was further 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's version of plastic was crafted from cellulose derived from cotton fibre treated with camphor, which could be shaped into various forms and used to imitate natural substances. This discovery was revolutionary, freeing human manufacturing from the limits of nature.
Nitrocellulose, also known as cellulose nitrate, is a highly flammable compound formed by treating cellulose with nitric acid and a solvent, or a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids. This process converts cellulose into nitrocellulose, which can then be crafted into plastic. The quality of the cellulose is important, as impurities can lead to inferior nitrocellulose. The British chemist Frederick Augustus Abel further refined the process by extending the washing and drying times of the nitrocellulose, improving the safety of guncotton manufacture.
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Plastic is made from polymers
Plastic is a term used to describe a category of materials called polymers. The word 'polymer' means ""of many parts", and polymers are made of long chains of molecules. These chains are formed by joining or polymerizing at least 1,000 monomers or single units together.
Polymers are chemical compounds in which molecules are bonded together in long, repeating chains. Plastics are a specific type of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer. They are made from molecules derived from oil, natural gas, petroleum, or bio-based sources, which are combined to create different polymers.
There are two main ways to create polymers: addition polymerization and condensation polymerization. In addition polymerization, monomers join by adding on to the end of the last unit in the chain, similar to making a chain of paper clips. Examples of plastics formed by this method include polyethylene, polystyrene, and acrylic. These polymers are often thermoplastic in nature, meaning they can be heated and softened, then hardened when cooled.
Condensation polymerization involves the elimination of a small molecule as the monomers join together. Examples of condensation polymers include nylons, some polyesters, and urethanes. These polymers can be thermoplastic or thermosetting. Thermoset polymers, once formed, cannot be melted and reformed.
Plastics are known for their plasticity, which allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms. This adaptability, along with their low weight, durability, flexibility, chemical resistance, low toxicity, and low-cost production, has led to their widespread use around the world.
The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who created a plastic that could be crafted into various shapes and imitate natural substances. This discovery revolutionized manufacturing by freeing it from the limits of nature.
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Most plastic is derived from crude oil and natural gas
The word "plastic" comes from the Greek word "plastikós", which means ""to mould or shape". It is a generic name for a wide range of synthetic materials that come from natural, raw materials. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who treated cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor. This discovery was revolutionary as, for the first time, human manufacturing was not constrained by the limits of nature.
Since then, plastics have been derived from a variety of natural sources, including cork, blood, milk, and cellulose. However, most plastics are produced from natural gas and petroleum. Crude oil and natural gas are primary sources of man-made plastic as they provide a cheap alternative to plastic made from plants. The production of plastics derived from crude oil begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery. This separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is crucial for plastic production. The next step in the process involves a chemical reaction that creates ethane and propane, two organic chemical gases considered the "building blocks" of plastic. This process usually takes place in refineries. The "cracking" phase then breaks down these gases into smaller molecules, ethylene and propylene, which are combined to form a polymer chain.
While most plastics are produced from non-renewable resources, a growing minority are produced from renewable resources like polylactic acid. Some innovators are developing bioplastics, which are made from plant crops instead of fossil fuels, to create more environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plastics.
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Frequently asked questions
The word plastic comes from the Greek word "plastikós", meaning "to mold or shape". The first manufactured plastic was Parkesine, invented by Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes in 1862. It was a cheap and colourful substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell.
Plastic is made from natural materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt, and crude oil. Crude oil is a complex mixture of thousands of compounds and needs to be processed before it can be used to make plastic.
The production of plastics begins with the distillation of crude oil in an oil refinery. This separates the heavy crude oil into groups of lighter components, called fractions. One of these fractions, naphtha, is crucial for the production of plastics. The next step involves a chemical reaction that creates ethane and propane, two organic chemical gases considered the "building blocks" of plastic. This process usually takes place in refineries. The ethane and propane are then broken down into smaller molecules during the "cracking" phase, turning into ethylene and propylene, respectively. These small molecules are then combined to form a polymer chain, which is the main structure of plastics.
