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Timeline of plastic development
open-in-new
<h2 id="pre-19th-century">Pre 19th Century</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Event</th><th>Reference</th></tr><tr><td>1600 BC</td><td><a href="/facts/Mesoamerican/cFjUFklr">Mesoamericans</a> use natural rubber for balls, and figurines.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1000 BC</td><td>First written evidence of <a href="/facts/Shellac/VNRrGF0r">Shellac</a>.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle Ages</td><td>Europeans use treated cow horns as translucent material for windows. Japanese and Chinese use ox horns for the same purpose, as well as for shades of oil lamps.</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="19th-century">19th Century</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Event</th><th>Reference</th></tr><tr><td>1839</td><td><a href="/facts/Eduard_Simon/bLBqtRCa">Eduard Simon</a>, a German apothecary, discovers <a href="/facts/Polystyrene/dfIVntty">polystyrene</a>.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1844</td><td><a href="/facts/Thomas_Hancock_(inventor)/mIvIYWDL">Thomas Hancock</a> patents the <a href="/facts/Vulcanization/jmBUqGaz">vulcanization</a> of rubber in Britain immediately followed by <a href="/facts/Charles_Goodyear/RLSBBLAW">Charles Goodyear</a> in United States.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1856</td><td><a href="/facts/Parkesine/PatU2xqV">Parkesine</a>, the first member of the <a href="/facts/Celluloid/PatU2xqV">Celluloid</a> class of compounds and considered the first man-made plastic, is patented by <a href="/facts/Alexander_Parkes/Y4gySH30">Alexander Parkes</a>.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1869</td><td><a href="/facts/John_Wesley_Hyatt/lg9CQ6Gq">John Wesley Hyatt</a> discovers a method to simplify the production of celluloid, making industrial production possible.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1872</td><td><a href="/facts/Polyvinyl_chloride/9VkegJvr">PVC</a> is accidentally synthesized in 1872 by German chemist <a href="/facts/Eugen_Baumann/XWubdWvz">Eugen Baumann</a>.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1889</td><td><a href="/facts/Kodak/zMnK74Cp">Eastman Kodak</a> successfully files a patent for celluloid film.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1890s</td><td><a href="/facts/Galalith/a1nYWPTX">Galalith</a>, a plastic derived from <a href="/facts/Casein/Udl5k8sx">casein</a>, is developed by Wilhelm Krische and Adolph Spitteler.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1890s</td><td>Auguste Trillat discovers the means to insolubilize casein by immersion in <a href="/facts/Formaldehyde/Ck8RLfqk">formaldehyde</a>, producing material marketed as <a href="/facts/Galalith/a1nYWPTX">galalith</a>.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1894</td><td><a href="/facts/Shellac/VNRrGF0r">Shellac</a> phonograph records are developed and soon become an industry standard.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1898</td><td>The German chemist <a href="/facts/Hans_von_Pechmann/o2Ehtu2X">Hans von Pechmann</a> first synthesizes <a href="/facts/Polyethylene/LaaAf4cn">polyethylene</a> while investigating <a href="/facts/Diazomethane/KyBPQTGb">diazomethane</a>.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="20th-century">20th Century</h2> <table><tbody><tr><th>Year</th><th>Event</th><th>Reference</th></tr><tr><td>1907</td><td><a href="/facts/Bakelite/aczWmxTx">Bakelite</a>, the first fully synthetic thermoset, is reported by <a href="/facts/Leo_Baekeland/yBfquTWH">Leo Baekeland</a> using <a href="/facts/Phenol/ACJs5NIU">phenol</a> and formaldehyde.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1912</td><td>After over 10 years' research, <a href="/facts/Jacques_E._Brandenberger/RdPJDgGW">Jacques E. Brandenberger</a> develops a method for producing <a href="/facts/Cellophane/bpBIL8PX">cellophane</a> and secures a patent.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1926</td><td><a href="/facts/Waldo_Semon/Ic02lVRm">Waldo Semon</a> and the <a href="/facts/Goodrich_Corporation/D2EdB4xB">B.F. Goodrich Company</a> develops a method to <a href="/facts/Plasticity_(physics)/2VKo6keA">plasticize</a> PVC by blending it with various additives.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1930</td><td><a href="/facts/Neoprene/MtLEdFvE">Neoprene</a> is produced for the first time at DuPont.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1930s</td><td><a href="/facts/Polystyrene/dfIVntty">Polystyrene</a> is first produced by <a href="/facts/BASF/cdtGr0TK">BASF</a>.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1931</td><td><a href="/facts/RCA_Victor/bp1jLxvU">RCA Victor</a> introduces its <a href="/facts/Polyvinyl_chloride/9VkegJvr">vinyl</a>-based Victrolac compound for records. Vinyl records have twice the groove density of shellac records with good sound quality.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1933</td><td>The first industrially practical polyethylene synthesis is discovered by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson at the <a href="/facts/Imperial_Chemical_Industries/XECoopCt">Imperial Chemical Industries</a> (ICI) works in <a href="/facts/Northwich/SMY1A9LP">Northwich</a>, England.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1935</td><td><a href="/facts/Nylon/hBvG9bCw">Nylon</a> is invented and patented by DuPont.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1938</td><td>Nylon is first used for bristles in toothbrushes. It features at the <a href="/facts/1939_New_York_World%27s_Fair/M8h3jfm9">1939 World's Fair</a> and is famously used in stockings in 1940.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1938</td><td><a href="/facts/Polytetrafluoroethylene/jesBNXKq">Polytetrafluoroethylene</a> (commonly known as teflon), discovered by <a href="/facts/Roy_Plunkett/5QGTeuW7">Roy Plunkett</a> at DuPont.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1941</td><td><a href="/facts/Polyethylene_terephthalate/Sc5UhmCB">Polyethylene terephthalate</a> (PET) is discovered at the <a href="/facts/Calico_Printers%27_Association/3XIr9N79">Calico Printers' Association</a> in Britain. Expanded polystyrene is first produced.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1950</td><td><a href="/facts/DuPont/kCUfkJzE">DuPont</a> begin the manufacture of <a href="/facts/Polyester/Ivp9CHpl">polyester</a>.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1951</td><td><a href="/facts/J._Paul_Hogan/X3mTGn6y">J. Paul Hogan</a> and Robert L. Banks from Phillips polymerize propylene for the first time to produce <a href="/facts/Polypropylene/HM9PvoCz">polypropylene</a>.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1953</td><td><a href="/facts/Polycarbonate/QU8sH1c6">Polycarbonate</a> is independently developed by <a href="/facts/Hermann_Josef_Schnell/5SbRyjQT">Hermann Schnell</a> at <a href="/facts/Bayer/fnYepBcG">Bayer</a> and <a href="/facts/Daniel_Fox_(chemist)/2JjayGS1">Daniel Fox</a> at <a href="/facts/General_Electric/bBm5CzVY">General Electric</a>.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1954</td><td><a href="/facts/Polypropylene/HM9PvoCz">Polypropylene</a> is discovered by <a href="/facts/Giulio_Natta/6FDwycRB">Giulio Natta</a> with production starting in 1957</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1954</td><td>Expanded <a href="/facts/Polystyrene/dfIVntty">polystyrene</a>, used for <a href="/facts/Building_insulation/qSMbCIfY">building insulation</a>, packaging, and cups, is invented by <a href="/facts/Dow_Chemical/tuTEe6tQ">Dow Chemical</a>.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1957</td><td>The Italian firm <a href="/facts/Montecatini_(company)/0T0ybuAm">Montecatini</a> begins large-scale commercial production of isotactic polypropylene.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1960s</td><td>High-density polyethylene bottles are introduced; they will replace glass bottles in most applications.</td><td><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a></td></tr><tr><td>1965</td><td><a href="/facts/Kevlar/cFyJP7p0">Kevlar</a> is developed at DuPont by <a href="/facts/Stephanie_Kwolek/5Y8tg4g4">Stephanie Kwolek</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1980s</td><td><a href="/facts/PET_film_(biaxially_oriented)/Eg8XF4F0">Polyester film stock</a> replaces cellulose acetate for photographic film and computer tapes.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>1988</td><td>The first polymer bank notes are issued in Australia</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Andrady AL, Neal MA (July 2009). "Applications and societal benefits of plastics". Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 364 (1526): 1977–84. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0304. PMC 2873019. PMID 19528050. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Greene, Joseph P. (2022-10-11). Sustainable Plastics: Environmental Assessments of Biobased, Biodegradable, and Recycled Plastics. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-119-88207-7. <a href="978-1-119-88207-7" target="_blank">978-1-119-88207-7</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created. Random House Digital, Inc. 2011. pp. 244–245. ISBN 9780307265722. <a href="9780307265722" target="_blank">9780307265722</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>UK Patent office (1857). Patents for inventions. UK Patent office. p. 255. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=0nCoU-2tAx8C&pg=PA255" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=0nCoU-2tAx8C&pg=PA255</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Baumann, E. (1872) "Ueber einige Vinylverbindungen" (On some vinyl compounds), Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie, 163 : 308-322. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=HNXyAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA308" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=HNXyAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA308</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Hart-Davis, Adam (2012). Science: the definitive visual guide. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 284, 336. ISBN 978-1-4093-8314-7. <a href="978-1-4093-8314-7" target="_blank">978-1-4093-8314-7</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Christel Trimborn (August 2004). "Jewelry Stone Make of Milk". GZ Art+Design. Retrieved 2010-05-17. <a href="http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/milk-stone.htm" target="_blank">http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/milk-stone.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Christel Trimborn (August 2004). "Jewelry Stone Make of Milk". GZ Art+Design. Retrieved 2010-05-17. <a href="http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/milk-stone.htm" target="_blank">http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/nenam/milk-stone.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>H. von Pechmann (1898) "Ueber Diazomethan und Nitrosoacylamine," Berichte der Deutschen chemischen Gesellschaft zu Berlin, 31 : 2640–2646; see especially page 2643. From page 2643: "Erwähnt sei noch, dass aus einer ätherischen Diazomethanlösung sich beim Stehen manchmal minimale Quantitäten eines weissen, flockigen, aus Chloroform krystallisirenden Körpers abscheiden; … " (It should be mentioned that from an ether solution of diazomethane, upon standing, sometimes small quantities of a white, flakey substance, which can be crystallized from chloroform, precipitate; … ) <a href="http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k90751n/f312.image.langEN" target="_blank">http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k90751n/f312.image.langEN</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Carlisle, Rodney (2004). Scientific American Inventions and Discoveries, p.338. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New Jersey. ISBN 0-471-24410-4. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Hart-Davis, Adam (2012). Science: the definitive visual guide. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 284, 336. ISBN 978-1-4093-8314-7. <a href="978-1-4093-8314-7" target="_blank">978-1-4093-8314-7</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Andrady AL, Neal MA (July 2009). "Applications and societal benefits of plastics". Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 364 (1526): 1977–84. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0304. PMC 2873019. PMID 19528050. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Winnington history in the making". This is Cheshire. 23 August 2006. Archived from the original on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100121071050/http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2006/8/23/275808.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100121071050/http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2006/8/23/275808.html</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Hart-Davis, Adam (2012). Science: the definitive visual guide. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 284, 336. ISBN 978-1-4093-8314-7. <a href="978-1-4093-8314-7" target="_blank">978-1-4093-8314-7</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Hart-Davis, Adam (2012). Science: the definitive visual guide. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp. 284, 336. ISBN 978-1-4093-8314-7. <a href="978-1-4093-8314-7" target="_blank">978-1-4093-8314-7</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Andrady AL, Neal MA (July 2009). "Applications and societal benefits of plastics". Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 364 (1526): 1977–84. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0304. PMC 2873019. PMID 19528050. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Andrady AL, Neal MA (July 2009). "Applications and societal benefits of plastics". Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci. 364 (1526): 1977–84. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0304. PMC 2873019. PMID 19528050. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873019</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"The History of soft drink Timeline". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved 2008-04-23. <a href="https://archive.today/20120713013450/http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa091699.htm" target="_blank">https://archive.today/20120713013450/http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa091699.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>