bakelite plastic made history.

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I cannot imagine life without modern plastics. And that’s not simply becouse i'm Professor Plastics.

the problems was these natural plastics were difficult and expensive to get . because the technological revolution created huge demand for materials, chemists began seriously checking out new sources of materials—and new materials.

A few partially synthetic plastics were invented within the 1800s. Celluloid—made primarily from plant cellulose and camphor—was created within the 1850s and still is in wide use. Galalith—made primarily from milk protein and formaldehyde—was invented within the 1890s and enabled the large growth in costume jewelry (but eventually was eclipsed by other plastics).
Then in 1909, a Belgian chemist named Leo Baekeland created the primary entirely synthetic plastic—and it might revolutionize the way many commodity were manufactured. Baekeland called his plastic “Bakelite.” (I guess that sounded better than “Leolite.”) Its properties made it fitted to a way wider sort of purposes than its predecessors. for instance , it had been immune to heat and wouldn't conduct electricity, so it had been a very good insulator—which made it particularly useful within the automotive and electrical industries emerging within the early 1900s.

Like many modern plastics, Bakelite was lightweight and sturdy , and it might be molded into nearly infinite shapes, so its use quickly expanded as manufacturers realized its potential. Consumers primarily were interested in its aesthetic qualities: a sleek, stylish look including a considerable , high-end feel. People bought Bakelite jewelry boxes, lamps, desk sets, clocks, radios, telephones, kitchenware, tableware, and a spread of game pieces like chess sets, billiard balls, and poker chips. Bakelite ushered during a new era of attractive, affordable, convenient commodity , making it possible for a broad range of consumers to enjoy products that previously had been inaccessible.

Bakelite made perhaps its largest stamp on the planet of fashion. Bakelite jewelry became immensely popular within the 1920s as a reasonable and attractive replacement for other materials. It came in several colors, including translucent and marbled shades by the 1950s. Bakelite jewelry from this era often had striking patterns, like polka dots and chevrons, and it might be carved into intricate shapes. Bakelite (and Galalith before it) introduced plastics to the style world, to be followed by nylon, polyester, spandex, and more. These plastics have inspired fashion designers to try to to more with less: more fabric choices, more creativity, and more durability, coupled often with less material, less weight, fewer wrinkles, and fewer expense.

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Antique Bakelite items—from household appliances to jewelry—today are displayed in museums and sold for giant sums. Their appeal to contemporary collectors may dwell Bakelite’s distinctive look, also because the way they represent a specific era: a time when more and more consumers were ready to cash in of previously out-of-reach fashions and commodity .

After the 1950s, an outsized sort of plastics appeared within the marketplace and edged out Bakelite altogether but a couple of specialized (mostly electrical) uses. But to me, Bakelite will always have a special place within the history of plastics because the first truly modern plastic, one that folks prized for its beauty, versatility, and sturdiness . It ushered within the rapid climb of plastics that we now use a day in numerous ways to enhance our lives: medical devices that help save lives … athletic gear that permits peak performance … packaging that helps keep our food safer and fresher … clothing that keeps us cool or warm …

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A 1924 article in Time magazine predicted that Bakelite, a “material of thousand uses,” would at some point structure nearly everything we touch, see, and use. a touch of hyperbole, of course—but prescient nonetheless.