Omar Khalid
The creation of plastic has revolutionised the way we manufacture, purchase, and use products. The history of plastic dates back to the 19th century when Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes created Parkesine, the first manufactured plastic. However, the first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in 1907 by Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland, who also coined the term plastics.
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What You'll Learn
- Alexander Parkes: The Birmingham-born inventor created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, in 1862
- John Wesley Hyatt: He created the first synthetic polymer, celluloid, in 1869
- Leo Baekeland: Belgian chemist who invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1907
- Wallace Carothers: Inventor of nylon, a synthetic silk, in 1935
- Paul Hogan and Robert Banks: Inventors of high-density polyethylene in 1951
Alexander Parkes: The Birmingham-born inventor created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, in 1862
The creation of plastic marked a turning point in human history, freeing manufacturing from the constraints of nature. The term 'plastic' comes from the Greek word 'plastikos', which means 'easily moulded into shape'.
The first man-made plastic was created by Birmingham-born inventor Alexander Parkes, who publicly demonstrated it at the 1862 Great International Exhibition in London. The material, called Parkesine, was derived from cellulose nitrate, a semi-synthetic material that could be moulded into various shapes and retained its form after cooling.
Parkes' invention was a precursor to modern plastics, setting a precedent for the future of plastic. Parkesine could be altered to be rigid, soft, or rubber-like, showcasing the potential for synthetic materials to be shaped as desired. This discovery revolutionised manufacturing, as humans were no longer limited by the availability of natural resources.
Parkesine, however, did not bring commercial success to Parkes himself. His former factory manager, Daniel Spill, and businessman John Wesley Hyatt further developed Parkesine. Hyatt, inspired by the need for an alternative to ivory, combined cellulose nitrate with camphor, creating celluloid in 1868. This discovery led to the democratisation of consumer goods, making items like combs and billiard balls affordable to the masses.
The world's first fully synthetic, commercially successful plastic was Bakelite, invented by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907. This invention marked the start of the world's obsession with plastic, as it could be moulded into various shapes and was resistant to electricity and heat.
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John Wesley Hyatt: He created the first synthetic polymer, celluloid, in 1869
John Wesley Hyatt, an American inventor and industrialist, created the first synthetic polymer in 1869. This synthetic polymer, known as celluloid, was the first artificial plastic. Hyatt was inspired by a New York firm's offer of $10,000 for anyone who could provide a substitute for ivory in billiard balls. The growing popularity of billiards had led to a strain on the supply of natural ivory, which was obtained through the slaughter of wild elephants.
Hyatt's creation of celluloid was a significant development in human manufacturing. For the first time, humans were not constrained by the limits of nature. Materials such as wood, metal, stone, bone, tusk, and horn were now no longer the only options. Hyatt combined cellulose derived from cotton fibre with camphor, creating a plastic that could be crafted into various shapes and made to imitate natural substances. This new plastic was used to make items such as combs and billiard balls, making consumer goods more affordable and accessible to many people.
In addition to revolutionising manufacturing, celluloid also had environmental benefits. Advertisements praised it as the saviour of the elephant and the tortoise, as plastics could reduce the destructive forces of human need on the natural world. Celluloid's affordability also helped to democratise material wealth, making it more widespread and obtainable. Hyatt not only created this new material but also developed the machinery necessary for working with it.
Celluloid had a significant economic impact in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It found a wide variety of uses, including in knife handles, ballpoint pen bodies, collars and cuffs, toys, and denture plates. It also played a crucial role in the development of photography, as it was used to create the first flexible photographic film for movies and still pictures. Hyatt's invention of celluloid marked a pivotal moment in human history, shaping the way we manufacture, purchase, and use many products.
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Leo Baekeland: Belgian chemist who invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1907
The Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1907. Baekeland was born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863, the son of a cobbler and a housemaid. He studied chemistry at the University of Ghent, graduating in 1882, and received his PhD in electrochemistry from Charlottenburg Polytechnic in 1884.
After a brief appointment as a professor of physics and chemistry, Baekeland travelled to the US in 1889, where he worked as a photographic chemist and developed Velox, a type of photographic printing paper that could be developed under artificial light. He sold this invention and his company to the Eastman Kodak Company in 1899.
Baekeland then turned his attention to the field of synthetic resins, investigating the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde. This led to the creation of Bakelite, which was made by combining phenol with formaldehyde under heat to create a condensation reaction that produced a polymer resin. Bakelite was inexpensive, non-flammable, and versatile, marking the beginning of the modern plastics industry. It was used to make a variety of colourful objects, including jewellery, telephones, radios, and billiard balls, which brightened everyday life in the first half of the 20th century.
Baekeland's success with Bakelite earned him the nickname "The Father of the Plastics Industry". He was also involved in other chemical technological ventures, such as helping to develop a production-quality electrolytic cell and serving as president of the American Chemical Society in 1924.
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Wallace Carothers: Inventor of nylon, a synthetic silk, in 1935
The history of plastic dates back to 1862, when Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes created Parkesine, a man-made plastic derived from organic cellulose. It was considered the first manufactured plastic. However, it was John Wesley Hyatt who invented the first synthetic polymer in 1869. Hyatt combined organic cellulose with camphor to create a plastic that could be crafted into various shapes and made to imitate natural substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory.
In 1907, Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic, commercially successful plastic. It was made by combining phenol with formaldehyde under heat to create a condensation reaction that produced a polymer resin.
Wallace Hume Carothers, an American chemist, inventor, and the leader of organic chemistry at DuPont, is credited with the invention of nylon in 1935. Carothers was a group leader at the DuPont Experimental Station laboratory, near Wilmington, Delaware, where most polymer research was conducted. Carothers' work in linear super-polymers began as an unrestricted foray into the unknown, with no practical objective in mind. However, DuPont believed that any new chemical breakthrough would be valuable to the company.
Carothers and his team were the first to investigate the acetylene family of chemicals. They turned their attention to fibers and substituted diamines for glycols to produce a type of polymer called a polyamide. These substances were much more stable than the polyesters formed by using glycols. The ability of polyamides to form crystalline domains through hydrogen bonding gives them increased mechanical properties, making them suitable for synthetic silk. On February 28, 1935, Dr. Gerard Berchet, under the direction of Carothers, produced a half-ounce of polymer from hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid, creating polyamide 6-6, which would come to be known as Nylon. Nylon was introduced to the world in 1938 and was used during World War II for parachutes, ropes, body armor, helmet liners, and more.
Carothers' scientific creativity was hindered by worsening bouts of depression, which ultimately led to his suicide in April 1937. Despite his success with nylon, he felt he had not accomplished much and had run out of ideas. His unhappiness was exacerbated by the death of his sister, Isobel, from pneumonia.
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Paul Hogan and Robert Banks: Inventors of high-density polyethylene in 1951
The creation of plastics has been revolutionary, allowing humans to create new materials and freeing us from the constraints of natural resources. The word 'plastic' itself means 'pliable and easily shaped'.
The history of plastic dates back to 1862, when Alexander Parkes demonstrated Parkesine, a man-made plastic derived from organic cellulose, at the Great International Exhibition in London, England. However, John Wesley Hyatt is often credited with inventing the first synthetic polymer in 1869. Hyatt combined organic cellulose with camphor to create a plastic that could be crafted into various shapes and made to imitate substances like tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and ivory.
In 1907, Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic, commercially successful plastic. This was followed by numerous advances in plastics, with companies investing in the research and development of new polymers.
Among these advances was the invention of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in 1951 by Paul Hogan and Robert Banks. Working at Phillips Petroleum, the two chemists discovered a breakthrough process for making HDPE, which was stronger, more heat-resistant, and could be produced at low pressure, making it easier to manufacture. This discovery revolutionized the plastics industry and launched a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Hogan and Banks also invented crystalline polypropylene during their collaboration, which began in 1946. Their inventions were marketed under the brand name Marlex®, which soon became ubiquitous in American life. The Hula-Hoop craze of 1956 gave significant momentum to their new plastics, and Marlex® was soon used in a variety of products, including baby bottles for hospitals due to its ability to withstand high sterilization temperatures.
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Frequently asked questions
The creation of plastic was a multi-step process, with many inventors contributing to the development of the material we know today. The first plastic made from synthetic materials was Parkesine, invented by Alexander Parkes in 1855 and patented in 1862. It was derived from organic cellulose and could be heated and moulded into objects.
Parkesine was an inexpensive substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell, and it was used to make items like combs and billiard balls more affordable.
The first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907. It was created by combining phenol and formaldehyde under heat and pressure.
