Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the first synthetic resin discovered?
What was the first synthetic resin discovered?
Which material replaced horn as the preferred material for combs in the 1880s?
Which material replaced horn as the preferred material for combs in the 1880s?
In what year was the first commercial production of nylon 6 fiber initiated in the United States?
In what year was the first commercial production of nylon 6 fiber initiated in the United States?
What significant use of polyethylene occurred during the 1940s?
What significant use of polyethylene occurred during the 1940s?
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Which company first produced the machine for making continuous photographic film in 1885?
Which company first produced the machine for making continuous photographic film in 1885?
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What innovation was introduced in 1932 related to injection molding?
What innovation was introduced in 1932 related to injection molding?
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Who patented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in 1941?
Who patented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in 1941?
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The first use of vulcanised rubber was noted in what year?
The first use of vulcanised rubber was noted in what year?
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What major innovation in the plastic industry was first introduced in 1945?
What major innovation in the plastic industry was first introduced in 1945?
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Which material was the first to be used in producing the body of the Barbie Doll unveiled in 1959?
Which material was the first to be used in producing the body of the Barbie Doll unveiled in 1959?
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What significant event related to plastics occurred in 1969?
What significant event related to plastics occurred in 1969?
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Which product made its debut in 1982 and was primarily made of polyurethane?
Which product made its debut in 1982 and was primarily made of polyurethane?
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Which plastic-related initiative was introduced in 1988?
Which plastic-related initiative was introduced in 1988?
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What notable feature does the Boeing 787, introduced in 2009, have?
What notable feature does the Boeing 787, introduced in 2009, have?
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Which of the following products was launched by Dyson in 1991?
Which of the following products was launched by Dyson in 1991?
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In what year did researchers at Rice University create a new super polymer material?
In what year did researchers at Rice University create a new super polymer material?
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Study Notes
Early Plastics (Pre-1900)
- Horn and tortoiseshell were the earliest natural plastics, used by The Horners Company of London as early as 1284.
- Vulcanised rubber, the first semi-synthetic resin, was discovered by Charles Goodyear in 1839.
- Gutta percha, used for the first submarine telegraph cable between Dover and Calais in 1850, was another early plastic.
- Cellulose nitrate, based on wood pulp, became popular for combs in the 1880s, replacing horn.
- Cellulose nitrate was used in thermoforming for making rattles in the 1890s.
- Viscose silk (rayon) was developed in 1892.
- Shellac was used for mass production of gramophone records starting in 1898.
Early Synthetics (1900-1929)
- Leo Baekeland discovered the first synthetic resin, Bakelite (phenol formaldehyde), in 1907.
- Casein plastics, derived from milk, were developed in 1909.
- Rolls Royce was one of the first companies to use phenolic resin in its car interiors in 1916.
- The first display of colored thermosetting plastic tableware was presented at Harrods in 1926.
Plastics as an Industry (1930s)
- Screw per-plasticisation in injection moulding was patented in 1932.
- Polyethylene (PE) was discovered by Fawcett and Gibson at ICI in 1933.
- The first commercial synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was developed by Crawford at ICI in 1933.
- The first aircraft canopies made from 'Perspex' (PMMA) were produced in 1936.
- First commercial production of polystyrene (PS) began in 1937.
- The full scale production of nylon 6 fiber began in the United States in 1938.
- The first nylon toothbrush was manufactured in 1938.
- Plunkett (DuPont) discovered PTFE (Teflon) in 1938.
- The first commercial production of polyethylene in the UK began in 1938.
Plastics in War (1940s)
- Polyethylene was used in radar technology during World War II.
- Whinfield and Dickson patented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in 1941, paving the way for polyester fibers like Terylene.
- Dr Harry Coover discovered methyl cyanoacrylate, the basis of "Super Glue", in 1942.
- First pilot plant for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was built in 1943.
- LDPE production by Monsanto in 1945 led to the creation of squeeze bottles, replacing glass containers for shampoos and soaps.
- Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) was produced in 1948.
- Velcro was invented in 1948 and patented in 1955.
- Airfix self-assembly models, originally made of cellulose acetate, were introduced in 1949, later transitioning to polystyrene.
Textiles, Fashion, Toys, Domestic Uses (1950s)
- The polyethylene bag was introduced in the 1950s.
- Polyester fibers, commercialized in 1953, allowed for "drip dry" and "non-iron" clothing.
- The Hula Hoop, reinvented from an earlier design, was marketed by Knerr & Medlin in 1957.
- Lego patented its stud and block system in 1958, producing toys using cellulose acetate and later ABS.
- Barbie Doll was unveiled by Mattel in 1959.
- Tupperware, made of low-density polyethylene, was launched in the US in 1949.
- Lycra, a polyurethane-based fabric, was invented by DuPont in 1949.
Color and Design (1960s & 70s)
- Neil Armstrong planted a nylon flag on the moon in 1969.
- Polyethylene terephthalate bottles for beverages were introduced in 1973.
- Plastics became the most used material in the world by 1976.
- The introduction of the first commercial mobile phones in 1979 marked a significant shift in technology.
High Performance Plastics (1980s & 90s)
- The first blue HDPE pressure pipes for drinking water were introduced in the UK in 1980.
- The first artificial heart, primarily made of polyurethane, was implanted in a human in 1982.
- The lightweight plastic Swatch watch, featuring 51 primarily plastic components, was introduced in 1983.
- The triangular recycling symbols for plastics were introduced in 1988.
- Dyson's vacuum cleaner was launched in Japan in 1991.
- The Smart car, with lightweight flexible polycarbonate panels, was introduced in 1994.
Nano Technology, Airbus A380, iPod (2000 - 2010)
- NASA explored the potential of polyethylene-based material, RFX1, for a manned mission to Mars in 2005.
- The Boeing 787, nicknamed 'Boeing's Plastic Dream', entered service in 2009, featuring plastic composites for its skin and comprising 50% of all materials in the plane.
Plastics fit for the Future (2010+)
- Scientists at Rice University created a new super polymer material for bulletproof protection.
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Description
Explore the fascinating development of plastics from natural materials to the first synthetic resins. This quiz covers innovations from the earliest uses of horn and tortoiseshell to Bakelite's introduction in the early 20th century. Test your knowledge on significant milestones in the history of plastics.
