Ethan Clarke
Alexander Parkes, born in Birmingham, England, on December 29, 1813, was a metallurgist, polymer scientist, industrial chemist, and inventor. He is best known for creating Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, in 1856. Parkes was a prolific inventor, with over 66 patents to his name, and his creation of synthetic plastic sparked further innovation in the field, leading to plastic becoming one of the most commonly used building compounds in the world. Despite his numerous inventions, Parkes never became wealthy, and his plastic company ultimately failed due to issues with the product's quality and flammability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Alexander Parkes |
| Born | 29 December 1813 |
| Birthplace | Birmingham, England |
| Died | 29 June 1890 |
| Occupation | Metallurgist, inventor, chemist |
| Known for | Creating Parkesine, the first man-made plastic |
| Parkesine characteristics | Flexible, mouldable when hot, retained hardness when cold, prone to cracking and highly flammable |
| Parkesine Company | Founded in 1866, closed in 1868 due to lack of commercial success |
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Alexander Parkes was a metallurgist, chemist, and inventor
Alexander Parkes, born in Birmingham, England, on December 29, 1813, was a metallurgist, chemist, and inventor. He was the son of a brass lock manufacturer and began his career as a decorative metalworker, apprenticing with his father and later at Messenger and Sons, famous brass founders of Birmingham. He then worked for Elkington & Co. (George and Henry Elkington), who patented the electroplating process. Parkes took out his first patent in 1841 for a process for electroplating delicate works of art, and his improved method for electroplating fragile objects was granted a patent in 1843.
Much of Parkes's work was related to metallurgy. He was one of the first to propose introducing small amounts of phosphorus into metal alloys to enhance their strength. He also developed a method of extracting silver from lead ore, commonly called the Parkes process (patented in 1850). This procedure involves adding zinc to lead and melting them together, causing the molten zinc to react and form compounds with any silver and gold present in the lead. These zinc compounds are lighter and form a crust that can be easily removed. Another important contribution was his discovery of the cold vulcanization process in 1841, which waterproofed fabrics using a solution of rubber and carbon.
In the 1850s, Parkes turned his attention to the manufacture of seamless metal tubes and cylinders for calico printing, taking out several patents in this area. However, his focus soon shifted to cellulose nitrate, which he believed could be a better insulator for the burgeoning electrical industry if its high inflammability could be overcome. This led to his creation of Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, in 1856. Parkesine was a celluloid-based thermoplastic made from nitrocellulose treated with various solvents, including alcohol and camphor. It was flexible, mouldable when hot, and retained hardness when cold.
Parkes exhibited Parkesine at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, showcasing kitchen items made from plastic. The material's potential was recognised, and it won a bronze medal for excellence. This success led him to establish the Parkesine Company in 1866 to manufacture plastic items on a large scale. However, the business closed in 1868 due to difficulties in producing the material cheaply and in large quantities, as well as issues with the final product's quality, cracking, and flammability. Despite these challenges, Parkes's creation of synthetic plastic sparked innovation, and he is remembered as a pioneer in the history of plastics.
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He created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic
Alexander Parkes, born in Birmingham, England, on December 29, 1813, was a metallurgist, inventor, and chemist. He created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, in 1856. Parkesine was a thermoplastic made from nitrocellulose treated with a variety of solvents. It was a flexible material that could be easily moulded when hot but retained its hardness when cold.
Parkes exhibited Parkesine at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, showcasing its potential for modern aesthetic and utility uses. The central pieces of his presentation were kitchen items made from plastic. The public and industry alike were highly interested in this new material, and Parkes established the Parkesine Company in 1866 to manufacture plastic items on a large industrial scale.
However, the business closed in 1868 due to difficulties in producing Parkesine at a low cost and in large quantities. The final products were also prone to cracking and highly flammable. Despite these challenges, Parkes' invention of synthetic plastic sparked the interest of countless inventors, who worked to perfect new formulas and improve the production process.
In addition to his work with plastics, Parkes made significant contributions in metallurgy and the development of various industrial processes. He proposed introducing small amounts of phosphorus into metal alloys to enhance their strength and developed a method for extracting silver from lead ore, known as the Parkes process. He also discovered the cold vulcanization process for waterproofing fabrics. By the time of his death in 1890, several new plastic products had been released, but none achieved the success that Parkes had envisioned.
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Parkesine was exhibited in 1862, but production ceased in 1868
Alexander Parkes, born in Birmingham, England, on December 29, 1813, was a metallurgist and inventor. He created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, a celluloid based on nitrocellulose treated with a variety of solvents.
Parkes exhibited Parkesine at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, showcasing kitchen items made from plastic. The public and industry were intrigued by the product, and he established the Parkesine Company in 1866 for bulk low-cost production. However, the business was not commercially successful due to several challenges. Parkesine was expensive to produce, prone to cracking, and highly flammable.
The inability to alter the plastic recipe to be more cost-effective and durable contributed to the company's demise. In 1868, just two years after its establishment, the Parkesine Company closed. Alexander Parkes sold the company to his business associate, Daniel Spill, who continued to work on improving the formula. Despite Parkes' challenges with Parkesine, his invention sparked interest in synthetic plastics, inspiring other inventors to refine and develop new formulas.
Parkesine, though fragile and rarely displayed due to its susceptibility to light degradation, remains a significant milestone in the history of plastics. It ignited a journey of innovation, leading to the creation of various plastic compounds that have become commonplace building materials in the world today.
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The material was prone to cracking and highly flammable
Alexander Parkes invented Parkesine, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1856. He patented the material in 1855, exhibiting it at the 1862 International Exhibition in London. However, despite its initial success, Parkesine had several drawbacks.
The material was prone to cracking, which was one of the main reasons for its lack of commercial success. This fragility, combined with its high flammability, led to the failure of the Parkesine Company, which Parkes had established in 1866 to produce the plastic in bulk at low cost. The business closed in 1868, just two years after it began, as Parkes could not alter the plastic recipe to make it cheaper and easier to produce.
The issues with Parkesine's flammability were significant enough that John Wesley Hyatt's similar product, celluloid, was also removed from public use. However, Hyatt's celluloid found a new lease of life after 1890 as an information carrier in the filmmaking business.
Parkesine was a semi-synthetic plastic based on nitrocellulose treated with a variety of solvents. It was flexible and could be easily moulded when hot but retained its shape when cold. Despite its promise as one of the most important building materials ever created, it was too expensive to produce and prone to degradation by light, making it unsuitable for mass production or widespread use.
Although Parkes' company ultimately failed, his invention sparked the imaginations of countless inventors. These inventors worked tirelessly to perfect new formulas and improve upon Parkesine, eventually making plastic one of the most commonplace building compounds in the world.
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Parkes never profited from his invention
Alexander Parkes, born in Birmingham, England, on December 29, 1813, was a metallurgist and inventor. He created Parkesine, the first man-made plastic, exhibiting it at the 1862 London International Exhibition. However, despite his groundbreaking invention, Parkes never profited from his creation.
Parkes established the Parkesine Company in 1866 with the aim of manufacturing plastic items on a large industrial scale. Unfortunately, this endeavour was short-lived, lasting only two years. The primary reason for its failure was the inability to make the production process more cost-effective and efficient. The final plastic products were also prone to cracking and burning, making them less desirable to consumers.
Parkesine was expensive to produce and challenging to manufacture. It was made from a variety of solvents, including nitrocellulose, alcohols, camphor, and oils. The complexity of the formula made it difficult to reduce production costs, and the final product was highly flammable and prone to cracking. These factors contributed to the company's demise in 1868.
After the failure of his company, Parkes sold it to his business associate, Daniel Spill. Spill continued to work on improving the plastic formula and developed Xylonite, a more successful version of Parkesine. However, Spill's efforts did not bring commercial success, and neither Spill's nor Hyatt's variations of plastic achieved the success that Parkes had envisioned.
Parkes' invention of synthetic plastic, Parkesine, had a significant impact on the world, inspiring countless inventors to improve plastic formulas. Plastic has become one of the most commonly used building compounds globally, but sadly, Parkes did not live to see the full extent of his invention's impact. By the time of his death in 1890, several new plastic products had been released, but none had achieved widespread success.
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Frequently asked questions
Alexander Parkes was an inventor with a varied career in metallurgy and chemistry. He created plastic—specifically, Parkesine, the first man-made plastic—as one of his many inventions.
Parkesine was made from nitrocellulose treated with a variety of solvents, including alcohols, camphor, and oils.
Parkesine was exhibited at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, where it was used in kitchen items. It was also developed for use as an insulator in the burgeoning electrical industry.
