By Tim Lambert
Plastics are artificial materials that can be easily moulded. Its name is derived from the Greek word plastikos, meaning easily moulded or shaped.
Plastics were first made in the 19th century. The first plastic was called Parkesine. It was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1862. He made it by mixing cellulose nitrate (cellulose treated with nitric and sulphuric acid) and other chemicals. When it was heated, it could be moulded, and when it cooled, it became hard. In 1868, John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid, which could be used to make billiard balls instead of ivory.
In 1909, Leo Baekeland patented a type of plastic called Bakelite. It was called the material of 1,000 uses. It was used to make things like radios.
Polyethylene was invented in 1933 by Reginald Gibson and Eric Fawcett. Perspex was invented in the early 1930s. Commercial production began in 1936. 1938 Roy Plunkett discovered Teflon.
Meanwhile, people invented artificial fibres. Rayon was first manufactured in December 1910. Wallace Carothers first made nylon in 1935. It was patented in 1937. At first, it was used for making toothbrushes, but in October 1939, the first nylon stockings went on sale in the USA.
Plastic first became widely used during the Second World War. After 1950, it became very common. It was used to make all kinds of artefacts. The first one-piece plastic shopping bag was patented in 1965. In the late 20th century, plastic became a vital part of everyday life. The PET bottle was patented in 1973 by Nathaniel Wyeth. It’s nearly unbreakable, so it was very useful for fizzy drinks.
Today, the vast majority is made from oil and gas. However, plastic became an environmental problem. However, in the UK, recycling plastic has become common.
