Who Invented Plastic

Plastic is one of the most useful materials we have in modern society. It is used in food containers, clothing, telephones, toys, and countless other products. It is lightweight, durable, and relatively inexpensive. But who invented plastic?

The invention of plastic is credited to a pair of English chemists named Alexander Parkes and John Hyatt. In 1855, Parkes created a material called Parkesine, which was a cellulose-based plastic. Soon after, in 1868, Hyatt created a similar material called Celluloid. These materials were used in a variety of applications, including photographic film and billiard balls.

Unfortunately for Parkes and Hyatt, their plastic inventions were not particularly successful. They were mostly ignored by industry and unable to compete with other materials, such as wood and brass. It wasn’t until 1907 that plastic truly became popular.

This moment of fame was achieved by a Belgian-born American chemist named Leo Baekeland. He created a new material called Bakelite, which he patented in 1909. Bakelite was the first truly synthetic plastic, as it was made from petroleum and coal tar. It was used to create products such as telephone casings, billiard balls, and electrical insulators.

Bakelite was an instant hit. It was stronger and more versatile than Parkesine and Celluloid, and quickly became the preferred material for many industries. It also kickstarted a wave of plastic innovation, as chemists looked for ways to create even more useful plastics.

The history of plastic is as complicated and diverse as the material itself. From Parkesine, to Celluloid, to Bakelite, each of these inventions has helped to shape plastic into what it is today. To this day, chemists are continuing to develop new and exciting forms of plastic to improve the products we all use and enjoy.