The History of Plastics Plastic Tech 1

Introduction  Plastics are said to be the most versatile materials on earth.  Almost all of the products we use in our daily lives contain plastics.  How has the plastic industry changed the world we live in?

Early Stages of Plastic  Goes back as far as the Egyptians.  Would wrap their dead with cloth and resin which would harden into a shell.  Would stop the body from decaying.  Greek word plastikos  Keratin  First natural plastic used in the United States  Made from fingernails, animal hoofs, horns, turtle shells  Early combs

Rubber’s Helping Hand  Charles Goodyear's 1839  Vulcanization process for natural rubber  Adding sulfur enhanced the elasticity and strength of the natural rubber “hard rubber” rubber “hard rubber”  Process is still used today

The Modern Era  Alexander Parks 1862  Developed the first early semi-synthetic plastic  Could be heated and formed  Buttons, combs, small picture frames, pens  High cost to manufacture slowed the growth

John Wesley Hyatt  Celluloid 1868 John Wesley Hyatt  First semi-synthetic commercial plastic  Developed as a substitute for Ivory  Combs, shirt collars & cuffs, billiard balls, film  Very flammable material

Dr. Leo Baekeland  Phenol-formaldehyde “Bakelite” 1909  First 100% synthetic plastic  Excellent electrical properties replaced rubber for insulation  Used for early records, phones, camera parts  Thermoset resin

War Developments  New plastics were developed due to limited natural materials  Rubber, Steel & Copper  War effort products  Airplane fabrics, gas masks, canteens, radar cable insulation, synthetic rubber

Post War Developments  War developments increased plastic production tremendously  1960’s 6 billion lbs.  Polystyrene  Furniture parts, packaging, toys  Nylon  Gears, rope, fishing line, stockings

Post War Developments  Polyethylene  Hoola Hoop, plastic bottle, paint brush  Teflon  “Frictionless”- Du Pont Invention  Polyurethanes  Flexible foam - cushions, dashboards  Polycarbonate  Replaced glass- stronger

Current Day  Since 1960’s the industry has grown +-15% annually  1983 the production surpassed iron & steel  Packaging industry is largest market for plastics  Plastic bottles, Tupperware, product packaging

Why or why not Plastic?  Advantages: Light, strong, flexible, or rigid, colored or clear, will not rust or corrode, electrical properties, inexpensive  Disadvantages: poor tolerance to heat, hard to repair, non- biodegradable

Review  What was the name of the first all natural plastic?  Who developed the first commercial plastic?  What was the name of the plastic that was developed in 1909 which revolutionized the plastic industry?  What industry is the largest user of plastic? Keratin Packaging Bakelite John Wesley Hyatt