Timeline of Plastics

By joshneedsatimeline
  • John Wesley Hyatt invents celluloid, the first plastic

    John Wesley Hyatt invents celluloid, the first plastic

    Celluloid is a highly flammable plastic mostly made from cellulose, which is turn is made of repeated glucose patterns.

  • Invention of polyethylene, the most commonly produced plastic

    It was discovered by Hans von Pechmann who made it by accident in 1898, and it was created again by accident in the first industrially viable manner in 1933 by Eric Fawcett and Reginald Gibson.
  • Leo H. Baekeland invents the first synthetic plastic, Bakelite.

    Leo H. Baekeland invents the first synthetic plastic, Bakelite.

    Bakelite was capable of withstanding heat, as it was a thermoset plastic. It is a combination of formaldehyde and phenol.
  • German chemist Hermann Staudinger discovered polymers, leading to a Nobel Prize win.

    German chemist Hermann Staudinger discovered polymers, leading to a Nobel Prize win.

    Polymers are molecules that are made up of a chain of monomers. Natural polymers include DNA, protein and wool.

  • Plastic begins to be used for widespread commercial purposes

    Due to the Second World War, plastic was mostly used for war-related purposes, such as helmets, parachutes and aircraft windows, but after the end of the war, plastic began to become an even bigger industry, being used for many objects in homes.

  • A study is released showing that microplastics have been found in the ocean

    The paper was written by Carpenter and Smith and focused on plastic found in the Sargasso Sea.
  • Charles Moore discovers the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

    Charles Moore discovers the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

    The Garbage Patch was a reminder to the general public of just how much plastic is in our oceans.