Discover the history of plastic and its development, from celluloid to modern applications

Plastic is a material that has been part of our lives for over a century and a half, during which it has revolutionized history, life and human thought. The importance and role that plastics play in our daily lives today are hard to summarize, but how did we get here?

The history of plastic, far from being a simple chronicle of scientific discoveries, represents a true revolution for modern society.

In this article, we will explore the evolution of plastic, from the earliest inventions to the turning point of the 20th century, the “century of plastic.”

The origins of plastic: the invention of celluloid
The birth of modern plastic
Evolution of plastics: PET
Plastic in the economic-boom years
Recent history of plastic

Parkesina ornament

Cellulose toiletries

The origins of plastic: the invention of celluloid

The original ancestor of plastic can be considered Parkesine, an early artificial material invented between 1861 and 1862 by the English chemist Alexander Parkes. It was actually a semi-synthetic resin, resembling ivory, presented at the International Exhibition in London and the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1867.

An additional step forward was made by the American inventor John Wesley Hyatt, who, spurred by a competition announcement promoted by a billiard-ball manufacturer, began searching for a material to replace ivory, which was becoming scarce.

Basing on Parkes’ studies, Hyatt created celluloid, which quickly found applications in numerous industries, from dental products to the production of cinematographic films.

However, the flammability of celluloid limited its use and pushed for the development of other synthetic materials.

The birth of modern plastic

The transition from celluloid to synthetic plastics marked the beginning of a new era. From 1907 onwards, for about half a century, the world of plastics was dominated by the arrival of Bakelite, an invention of a Belgian chemist, Leo Hendrik Baekeland. This thermosetting resin was produced by reacting phenol and formaldehyde

The advantage of Bakelite was its ability to become plastic when heated, maintaining the shape given to it through molding.

This discovery paved the way for the mass production of plastic objects: telephones, radios, kitchen utensils, billiard balls, as well as costume jewelry, car dashboards, definitively marking the beginning of the plastic era, which continues to nowadays.

Just a few years after Bakelite, between 1912 and 1913, came the invention of PVC and cellophane.

Although it had been observed by chance in some mid-19th century experiments, PVC was patented by the German chemist Frank Klatte in 1912, who discovered the polymerization technique for vinyl chloride.

As for cellophane, its industrial application would only come many years after its discovery, but since 1913, the benefits of this material were evident: flexibility and impermeability. Its inventor, Swiss Jacques Edwin Brandenberger, decided to call it “cellophane,” from the combination of the terms “cellulose” and “diaphane” (diaphanous, translucent, allowing light to pass through).

The discovery and development of materials like Bakelite, PVC, cellophane and later nylon, opened the door to the mass production of plastic objects.

Evolution of plastics: PET

The 20th century witnessed a rapid evolution of plastics, characterized by relentless innovation and diversification. A few years after the invention of Bakelite and the discovery of PVC, a new patent emerged. Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson invented polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in England.

The use of PET, introduced in 1941, spread after World War II and was used in the construction of parachutes, sweaters and wrinkle-free shirts.

Its introduction into the food packaging world dates back to 1973, when the American engineer and prolific inventor Nathaniel Wyeth sought a way to produce bottles without using glass.

For Wyeth, it was a challenge, which he succeeded in overcoming only after years of experimentation, patenting a new method for producing plastic bottles in 1977. His solution involved using a special moulding that stretched the plastic fibres, aligning the molecules and making the material much more resistant.

The bottle invented by Wyeth -lightweight, shock-resistant and transparent- is now the standard for packaging mineral water and soft drinks.

The introduction of plastic bottles marked another decisive moment, revolutionizing the way beverages and food products were preserved and distributed.

Automation

Plastic in the economic-boom years

The “plastic years” officially began on March 11, 1954, when Italian Giulio Natta, who would soon win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, wrote in his diary: “Made polypropylene.”

The new product, later called “Moplen,” was used to produce everything: from dishes to car components, basins and toys. With the economic boom of the 1960s, plastic invaded Italian homes with objects that were shiny, smooth, modern, and colourful. It was at an “affordable” price, no longer exclusive to the wealthy.

From mass-produced plastics, the industry moved on to so-called techno-polymers or engineering polymers, with resistance and rigidity characteristics that allowed them to replace more traditional metals; one of these is polycarbonate, which, thanks to its superior performance, was used in many fields: in the optical field, eyeglass lenses; in the transport  field for helmets, and headlight covers; in the military, for bulletproof vests and riot shields; in the construction for roofing and windows, and so on .

 

Recent history of plastic: from the 1990s onwards

Plastic has continued to play a crucial role in various industrial sectors, demonstrating its versatility and functionality. Alongside extensive use, with the approach of the new century, there has been a growing commitment to the development of sustainable plastics. Innovations such as bioplastics, made from renewable and biodegradable sources, or advancements in chemical recycling, promise to reduce the environmental impact of plastics, paving the way for more responsible management of synthetic materials.

The 1990s were characterized by significant technical developments, increasingly meeting the needs of manufacturing:

 

Product safety

Durability

Biocompatibility

Low environmental impact

Practicality and lightness

Reusability

 

Thus, in the 1990s, multilayer films or barrier films were born, which could be transparent or metallized, capable of providing an effective barrier against gases, offering a valid solution against moisture absorption and preserving products from oxygen, light, and external odours, prolonging their preservation and freshness. “Ours will be remembered as the polymer era,” said Nobel Prize winner Paul John Flory.

The future belongs to technopolymers and special polymers, which will be produced in smaller quantities but will be essential for the progress of humanity

Today, discussing plastic mainly involves focusing on its environmental impact and the proper recycling of this material.

Its widespread use brings with it the responsibility to effectively manage plastic recycling, one of the most critical environmental challenges of our time.

Solutions to this problem range from technological innovation, which aims to develop new treatment and recycling methods, to the adoption of circular economy strategies, which encourage the reduction, reuse and recycling of resources

We are Tecnofer!

Tecnofer was born in 1976 from a very cutting-edge idea for that time: designing technologies capable of turning waste into new resources. 

Since then we design, develop and produce complete lines for plastic waste treatment such as PET, PP and HDPE containers, as well as agricultural and post-consumer LDPE-LLDPE film.  Also we create and produce special solutions for the recovery of pulper waste in the paper-mill sector, of Tetra Pak, of organic waste and packaged waste.

With our technologies, we valorise those so-called waste materials, paying particular attention to the issues of environmental protection. We are inspired by circular economy principles, and nature. 

 
Find out more about Tecnofer