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Plastics are making a positive impact, and have been doing so for more than 150 years. The many amazing properties of plastic materials and the contributions of many innovative people have driven the industry forward in ways that would have been unimaginable a century and a half ago.
What is Plastics?
The word plastics comes from the Greek πλαστικός (plastikos), meaning “capable of being formed or cast”, and from πλαστός (plastos), meaning “cast”. Plastic is a broad term used to describe materials that can be formed and molded under high temperatures and pressures.
Today the word plastics refers to a synthetic or semi-synthetic material that is based on polymers. The chemical material class of all modern plastics is made up of different polymers, the vast majority of which are formed from chains of carbon atoms, with or without oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atoms.
The plasticity of plastics allows them to be molded, extruded or pressed into a variety of solid objects. This adaptability, combined with a variety of other properties such as lightweight, durability, flexibility and low production costs, has led to their widespread use.
When Was Plastics Invented?
The invention of plastics can be traced back to the 19th century. The first fully synthetic plastic, phenolic resin, also known as Bakelite or Bakelite, was invented by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907. Baekeland’s discovery ushered in the era of plastics, making this lightweight, durable, and moldable material widely used in various fields. The birth of plastics marked a major change in industry and daily life, bringing endless possibilities to modern manufacturing and product design. Let us learn about the history of plastics.
A Brief History of Plastics
Natural Plastics
While we think of plastics as a 20th-century material, people have been using natural plastics such as horn, tortoiseshell, amber, rubber, and shellac since ancient times. Animal horns become malleable when heated and can be used for a variety of purposes and products, from medallions to cutlery. Comb manufacturing was one of the largest uses of horns in the 19th century.
By the mid-19th century, as industrialized commodity production grew, some animal-source materials were becoming increasingly scarce. Elephants faced extinction if demand for ivory, which was used to make items from piano keys to billiard balls, continued to grow. Certain species of tortoises faced the same fate, with their shells used to make combs.
First Semi-synthetic Plastics
Inventors quickly tried to solve the problem of the shortage of natural plastics by patenting a number of new semi-synthetic materials based on natural substances such as cork, blood, and milk. One of the earliest was cellulose nitrate – cotton fibers dissolved in nitric and sulfuric acid and then mixed with vegetable oils.
Its inventor was Birmingham-born craftsman and chemist Alexander Parkes, who patented the new material in 1862 as Parkesine. It is considered the first man-made plastic, a cheap and colorful alternative to ivory or tortoise shells.
Parkesine is the world’s first semi-synthetic plastic. Although it was not completely synthetic, it was indeed an important step in the history of plastics. Alexander Parkes demonstrated the material at the 1862 London International Exhibition, making Parkesine the first commercially produced plastic in history.
Although Alexander Parkes did not achieve commercial success, his invention was a success and was adopted and developed by others. This new plastic made items like combs and billiard balls affordable to more people, democratizing consumer goods and culture.
First Full-synthetic Plastics
1907 Belgian chemist Dr. Leo Baekeland invents Bakelite, the world’s first fully synthetic plastic, by combining two chemicals, formaldehyde and phenol, under high temperature and pressure.
It is also the first thermosetting plastic, meaning it does not soften or melt when heated. It becomes the material of choice for electrical devices, which comes in handy over the next few decades. Today, it is still used in electrical and automotive parts.
Bakelite has a dark brown, wood-like appearance but can be easily mass-produced, making it ideal for bringing new design trends like Art Deco to the masses. Leo Baekeland’s invention sparked a consumer craze for an affordable yet highly desirable product.
Symbols of the 20th-century
The 20th century saw the widespread use of plastic products, and some iconic plastic products became symbols of the era. GPO telephones, Ekco AD36 radios, Purma cameras, Tupperware tableware, plastic toys (such as Legos), nylon socks, and vinyl records, etc., these plastic products not only changed people’s daily lives, but also profoundly influenced industrial design, fashion, and culture. With their innovative design, practicality, and cost-effectiveness, they became an integral part of the 20th century and witnessed the important position of plastics in modern society.
The Invention of Polyethylene
In the early 20th century, the oil and chemical industry began to form an alliance ICI with companies such as Dow Chemical, ExxonMobil, DuPont, and BASF. ICI was founded in 1926 and achieved its first major success in the field of plastics in 1932 with the production of plexiglass. These companies are still the main raw material resin producers in the plastics industry today.
The driving force behind these alliances was the desire to utilize waste materials generated by processing crude oil and natural gas. One of the most abundant was ethylene gas, and Britain’s Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) beat German and American competitors to create a plastic from this byproduct.
In 1933, a team at ICI’s plant in Winnington tried to mix ethylene and benzaldehyde under high pressure and temperature. The experiment failed. Instead, they found a white, waxy substance in the reaction tubes, as oxygen leaked into the container. It turned out to be a polymer of ethylene.
Polyethylene, now the world’s most abundant plastic, is a wonder material: strong, flexible, and heat-resistant. Used to insulate radar cables, the lightweight plastic helped reduce the weight of British warplanes and gave them a significant advantage over German ones. And the material soon found its way into consumer products, from plastic shopping bags and Tupperware to artificial hips and knees.
The Invention of Nylon and Teflon
ICI’s American rival DuPont had a string of successes with plastics in the 1930s, especially nylon and Teflon. DuPont initially sold nylon as synthetic stockings, but it was soon rationed by the U.S. military for use in parachutes and ropes.
After the war, manufacturers looked to the consumer market as a sales outlet for their products, and nylon stockings immediately became popular. During this decade, polyester was introduced commercially as a wrinkle-resistant fabric. Polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were also introduced into different consumer products. Eames, a well-known furniture brand, began using plastics to create affordable, modern furniture designed for the smaller living spaces that many veterans called home after the war.
The Birth of Other Plastics
In 1955, plastics contributed to clean drinking water with the introduction of polyimide, which was commercially produced and used in reverse osmosis purification membranes. The same material was also used for insulation in early spacecraft.
In 1965, as the space race heated up, the polysulfone family of thermoplastics was introduced and used in space suits. Kevlar was also introduced and first used in the racing industry to replace steel in tires.
In 1989, Patrick and Sally Gruber successfully produced bio-based, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) from corn on their kitchen stovetop.
Application of Plastics In Our Daily Life
After the development and popularization of plastic, it has gradually been applied to family life, bringing great convenience and comfort to our daily lives. From the kitchen to the bathroom, plastic products are everywhere. In the kitchen, plastic containers, storage boxes and storage racks help us store food and keep ingredients fresh. In the bathroom, plastic buckets, washbasins, toiletries, etc. are waterproof and easy to clean. In addition, household plastic products such as chairs, plastic wardrobes, and storage boxes are not only light and easy to move, but also have a variety of designs and colors to meet the needs of different home styles. The versatility and affordability of plastics make it an indispensable part of modern families.
LEBO Plastic is a leading plasticware manufacturer dedicated to providing consumers with high-quality plastic products. We design, produce, and wholesale a series of household plastic products, including food storage containers, storage racks, home storage boxes, plastic wardrobes, and plastic household items such as plastic stools, water buckets, washbasins, mop buckets, trash cans, etc. LEBO ensures that each product is durable, practical, and beautiful through strict quality control and advanced production technology. We are constantly developing new materials and technologies to meet the dual needs of modern families for functionality and aesthetics. Welcome to inquiry.
The Future of Plastics
That 1940 Popular Mechanics article has come to fruition, as plastics now positively impact the production of clothing, homes, cars, airplanes, and more. We can only imagine what the future holds for plastics. It took only 150 years to go from one man and a knife-handled table to a multi-trillion-dollar industry that has positively impacted nearly everyone in the world.
We believe that the plastics industry will continue to make breakthroughs in innovation and sustainability in the future. With the advancement of technology and the increase in environmental awareness, the production and use of plastics will pay more attention to eco-friendliness and resource recycling.
LEBO, a manufacturer of household plastic products, is committed to leading this trend by developing degradable and renewable materials to reduce environmental impact. LEBO will continue to promote technological advancement, provide consumers with high-quality, environmentally friendly household plastic products, and help build a greener and more sustainable future.
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Choose LEBO, we will be your reliable household plastic manufacturer partner. From design to finished product, we offer high-quality plasticware for you.
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