Omar Khalid
Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented plastic as we know it today. Born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863, Baekeland immigrated to the United States in 1889, where he embarked on a career in chemistry. After successfully inventing Velox, a photographic paper that could be developed under artificial light, Baekeland turned his attention to finding a synthetic substitute for shellac, which at the time was made from the shells of Asian lac beetles. In 1907, he invented Bakelite, the world's first fully synthetic plastic. Baekeland's invention marked the beginning of the age of plastics, as it could be easily moulded into various shapes and was strong, inexpensive, and non-flammable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for inventing plastic | To find a replacement for shellac, which was made from the shells of Asian lac beetles |
| Type of plastic | The first fully synthetic plastic |
| Name of plastic | Bakelite |
| Year invented | 1907 |
| Plastic qualities | Strong, mouldable, cheap to make, non-flammable, heat-resistant, electrically insulating |
| Plastic composition | Phenol and formaldehyde |
| Plastic applications | Radios, telephones, electrical insulators, jewellery, automobile engine parts, washing machine components, light bulb sockets, billiard balls, toys |
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What You'll Learn
Leo Baekeland's search for a synthetic substitute for shellac
Leo Baekeland, born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863, immigrated to the United States in 1889. He was a chemist and entrepreneur who invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1907.
Baekeland's search for a synthetic substitute for shellac began in 1905. Shellac, at the time, was made from the shells of Asian lac beetles. He investigated the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde, producing a soluble phenol-formaldehyde shellac called Novolak, which never became a market success. He then turned to developing a phenol-formaldehyde binder for asbestos, which was then moulded with hard natural rubber.
By carefully controlling the pressure and temperature applied to an intermediate made from the two reagents, he produced a polymer that, when mixed with fillers, created a hard, mouldable plastic. This plastic was named Bakelite, after its inventor. It was a condensation product of formaldehyde and phenol, produced at high temperature and pressure.
Bakelite was strong, mouldable, and inexpensive to produce, making it ideal for manufacturing. It was soon found to have many uses, especially in the rapidly growing automobile and radio industries. It was also used in everything from telephone handsets and costume jewellery to bases and sockets for light bulbs, as well as in electronics and engine parts.
Baekeland founded the Bakelite Corporation, and the company adopted a logo that incorporated the sign for infinity and a tagline that read, "The Material of a Thousand Uses."
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The process of combining phenol and formaldehyde
Belgian-born chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1907. It was made from phenol (then known as carbolic acid) and formaldehyde.
Baekeland investigated the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde, first producing a soluble phenol-formaldehyde shellac called Novolak, which never became a market success. He then turned to developing a phenol-formaldehyde binder for asbestos, which at the time was moulded with hard natural rubber.
Baekeland discovered that by carefully controlling the pressure and temperature applied to an intermediate made from the two reagents, he could produce a polymer that, when mixed with fillers, produced a hard, mouldable plastic. This plastic, which he named Bakelite, was made from phenolic resin and wood flour.
To make phenol-formaldehyde resins, you need to add a catalyst to a phenol and formaldehyde mixture to create an initial reaction. This solution is then heated, kick-starting the polymerization process. Additional formaldehyde solution is then added to the mixture, and more heat is introduced. The mixture is then left to cool. What remains post-curing is a viscous and thick material, known commonly as phenolic resin.
The molar ratio of formaldehyde to phenol is important. When the ratio reaches one, every phenol is linked together via methylene bridges, generating one single molecule, and the system is entirely crosslinked. This is why novolacs (F:P <1) do not harden without the addition of a crosslinking agent, and why resoles with the formula F:P >1 will.
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The creation of Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic
Leo Hendrik Baekeland, born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863, was a chemist and entrepreneur who invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic. He studied at the University of Ghent and immigrated to the United States in 1889, where he spent most of his career.
Baekeland's initial forays into chemistry began with the invention of Velox photographic paper in 1893, which could be developed under artificial light. This invention earned him a substantial sum, which he used to set up his own laboratory in Yonkers, New York. There, he began experimenting with the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde, which would eventually lead to the creation of Bakelite.
Intrigued by the potential of these materials in molding, Baekeland carefully controlled the pressure and temperature applied to phenol and formaldehyde, ultimately producing a hard, moldable plastic. This plastic, which he named Bakelite, was made from phenol, then known as carbolic acid, and formaldehyde. The process patent for making insoluble products of phenol and formaldehyde was filed in July 1907 and granted in December 1909.
Bakelite was strong, moldable, and inexpensive to produce, making it ideal for manufacturing. It was introduced to the public in 1909 at a chemical conference, and its applications quickly spread to most branches of industry. It was used in the production of radios, telephones, electrical insulators, automobile engine parts, washing machine components, and even colourful jewellery.
Baekeland's invention of Bakelite marked the beginning of the age of plastics and earned him numerous awards and honours, including the Perkin Medal in 1916 and induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1978.
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The beginning of the age of plastics
Leo Hendrik Baekeland is known as "The Father of the Plastics Industry" for his invention of Bakelite, the world's first fully synthetic plastic. Born in Ghent, Belgium, in 1863, Baekeland immigrated to the United States in 1889. He was a chemist and entrepreneur with a particular interest in the potential applications of chemistry.
Baekeland's first major invention was Velox, a photographic printing paper that could be developed under artificial light. In 1898 or 1899, he sold his company and the rights to Velox to George Eastman of the Eastman Kodak Company for a substantial sum. With this money, he set up his own laboratory in Yonkers, New York, where he turned his attention to the creation of a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural product made from the shells of Asian lac beetles.
In 1907, after two years of experimentation, Baekeland discovered Bakelite, a condensation product of formaldehyde and phenol produced at high temperature and pressure. This hard, moldable plastic could be used to manufacture a wide range of products, from telephone handsets and jewelry to automobile engine parts and electrical insulators. Bakelite was strong, inexpensive, non-flammable, and versatile, and it soon found applications in most branches of industry.
The invention of Bakelite marked the beginning of the age of plastics, leading to the explosive growth of a worldwide industry. Baekeland's pioneering work in plastics earned him numerous awards and honours, including induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1978.
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The founding of the Bakelite Corporation
Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic, in 1907. He was a Belgian-born chemist and entrepreneur who spent most of his career in the United States.
In 1905, Baekeland began searching for a synthetic substitute for shellac, which at the time was made from the shells of Asian lac beetles. By controlling the pressure and temperature applied to phenol and formaldehyde, he produced a hard, moldable plastic: Bakelite. Baekeland founded the General Bakelite Company in 1910, and by 1912, Bakelite was being used to make billiard balls, as its elasticity and sound were similar to ivory. During World War I, Bakelite was used widely, particularly in electrical systems, and by the 1920s, it had become a popular material for jewelry.
In 1922, the Bakelite Corporation was formed from a merger of three companies: Baekeland's General Bakelite Company, the Condensite Company founded by J.W. Aylesworth, and the Redmanol Chemical Products Company founded by Lawrence V. Redman. This merger followed patent litigation that was favourable to Baekeland. Under the direction of advertising and public relations, Allan Brown, Bakelite was aggressively marketed as "the material of a thousand uses". The company adopted the mathematical symbol for infinity as its logo and recognised no boundaries for their material.
The Bakelite Corporation faced serious competition from other companies when Baekeland's heat and pressure patents expired in 1927. However, by 1930, the company occupied a 128-acre plant in Bound Brook, New Jersey. Baekeland retired in 1939 and sold his successful company to the Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation, now a subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company.
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Frequently asked questions
Leo Baekeland was a chemist and entrepreneur who was fascinated by the potential of chemistry. He invented Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, in 1907. Baekeland was looking for a way to make money and wanted to find a replacement for shellac, which was made from the shells of Asian lac beetles.
Bakelite is made by combining phenol (a common disinfectant, also known as carbolic acid) with formaldehyde under high temperature and pressure.
Bakelite is a hard, mouldable, synthetic plastic that is strong, heat-resistant, non-conductive, and cheap to make. It was used to manufacture a wide range of products, including telephone handsets, costume jewellery, radios, electrical insulators, automobile engine parts, and washing machine components.
Baekeland founded the Bakelite Corporation and received many awards and honours for his invention, including the Perkin Medal in 1916 and the Franklin Medal in 1940. He was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, in 1978. Baekeland retired in 1939 and passed away in 1944.
