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Questions and Answers
The first pilot plant for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was established in 1945.
False
The first Airfix self-assembly model was initially made of polystyrene.
False
Lycra, based on polyurethane, was invented by DuPont in 1949.
True
The first commercial mobile phones were introduced in 1980.
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Neil Armstrong planted a polyester flag on the moon in 1969.
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The introduction of triangular recycling symbols relating to plastics occurred in 1988.
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The Boeing 787 is composed of 50% aluminum and 50% plastic composites.
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The Dyson vacuum cleaner was launched in Japan in 1994.
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Charles Goodyear discovered vulcanised rubber in 1839.
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The first synthetic resin, Bakelite, was discovered in 1909.
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The first commercial production of nylon 6 fiber began in the United Kingdom in 1938.
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The Horners Company of London was first recorded in 1284.
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Polyethylene was discovered by Fawcett and Gibson at ICI in 1933.
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The first toothbrush with nylon tufts was manufactured in 1938.
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Gutta percha was used for the first submarine telegraph cable laid in 1850.
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PET, the first polyester fiber, was patented in 1942 by Whinfield and Dickson.
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Study Notes
Early Plastics
- Horn and tortoiseshell were the earliest forms of natural plastic, used by the Horners Company of London in 1284.
- Vulcanized rubber, gutta-percha, and parkesine were popular in the 1820s, with Charles Goodyear discovering vulcanized rubber in 1839.
- Gutta-percha was used for the first submarine telegraph cable between Dover and Calais in 1850.
- Cellulose nitrate replaced horn for combs in the 1880s due to the fashion trend for long hair.
- Cellulose nitrate was used to make babies’ rattles through thermoforming in the 1890s.
- Viscose silk (rayon) was developed by Cross and Bevan in 1892.
- Shellac was used to mass-produce gramophone records from 1898.
Early Synthetics
- Leo Hendrik Baekeland discovered Bakelite, the first synthetic resin, in 1907.
- Casein plastic, derived from milk, was developed by Erinoid in 1909.
- Rolls Royce used phenol formaldehyde in its car interiors in 1916, which was a new and innovative material.
- Harrods displayed new colored thermosetting plastic tableware in 1926.
Plastics as an Industry
- Screw per-plasticisation in injection moulding was patented in 1932.
- Polyethylene was discovered by Fawcett and Gibson at ICI in 1933.
- The first commercial synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) was developed by Crawford at ICI in 1933.
- The first aircraft canopies made from 'Perspex' were produced in 1936.
- Polystyrene production began commercially in Germany by IG Farben in 1937.
- Nylon 6 fiber was mass-produced in the US in 1938.
- The first nylon-tufted toothbrush was manufactured in 1938.
- PTFE, also known as 'Teflon', was commercially produced in 1943.
- LDPE, used for the Sqezy bottle, was commercially produced in the UK by ICI in 1938.
- Monsanto's production of LDPE bottles in 1945 led to a rapid expansion in the plastics industry, replacing glass bottles for shampoos and soaps.
Plastics in War
- Polyethylene was used in radar during World War II.
Plastics in Everyday Life
- "Polyethylene terephthalate" (PET) was first patented by Whinfield and Dickson in 1941 and the first polyester fiber called Terylene was created.
- "Super Glue" (methyl cyanoacrylate) was discovered by Dr. Harry Coover of Eastman Kodak in 1942.
- Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) was produced in 1948.
- Velcro, invented by George deMestral in 1948, was patented in 1955.
- Tupperware made from low density polyethylene was launched in the US in 1949.
- "Lycra", based on polyurethane, was invented by DuPont in 1949.
- The polyethylene bag became popular in the 1950s.
- Polyester fibers were commercially available in 1953, introducing "drip dry" and "non-iron" concepts.
- The Hula Hoop, created by Knerr & Medlin, Wham-O Toy Company, was reinvented in 1957.
- Lego patented its stud and block coupling system in 1958, creating toys with cellulose acetate.
- Barbie Doll was unveiled by Mattel at the American International Toy Fair in 1959.
Plastics in the World
- A nylon flag was planted on the moon by Neil Armstrong in 1969.
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) beverage bottles were introduced in 1973.
- Plastics became the most used material in the world in 1976.
- The first commercial mobile/portable phones were introduced in 1979.
- The first blue HDPE pressure pipes for potable water were introduced in the UK in 1980.
- The first artificial heart, primarily made of polyurethane, was implanted in a human in 1982.
- The slim plastic Swatch watch, made of 51 mostly plastic components, debuted in 1983.
- Triangular recycling symbols related to plastics were introduced in 1988.
- Dyson’s vacuum cleaner was launched in Japan in 1991.
- The Smart car, featuring lightweight flexible integrally colored polycarbonate panels, was introduced in 1994.
- NASA explored the use of polyethylene-based material RFX1 as the material for a spaceship going to Mars in 2005.
- The Boeing 787, "Boeing's Plastic Dream", which utilized plastic composites for its skin and 50% of its materials, entered service in 2009.
Plastic for the Future
- Scientists at Rice University, Texas, developed a new super-polymer material that can withstand bullets.
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Description
Explore the fascinating journey of plastics, from early natural forms like horn and tortoiseshell to groundbreaking synthetic inventions like Bakelite. This quiz covers key milestones, innovations, and their applications, enhancing your understanding of materials that shaped modern life.
