When Was The First Plastic Made?

In making a plastic, the chemist starts with the molecule. The chemist causes molecules to form a long chain, the links being the molecules. The new “long-chain” molecule acts differently from the single molecule. The whole process is called polymerization, and it is by polymerization that new materials are made.
Chemist knew about and had worked with plastics as early as the mid 1800’s.Vinyl chloride was polymerized in 1838,styrene in 1839,acrylics in 1843, and polyester in18 47.But at that time there was no particular need for these synthetic materials.
In 1870, looking for a substitute for ivory, John Hyatt and his brother Isaiah Hyatt discovered Celluloid. This was a new, tough, easily made and shaped material, and resisted many chemicals. It stimulated chemists to think about developing additional synthetic materials.
In 1909 the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland discovered phenol formaldehyde. This was the first of a type of plastics called thermosetting plastics.
Baekeland was actually trying to invent a substitute for shellac. Instead he produced dark syrup that would harden when heated. The new material was not dissolved by the ordinary solvents. It could be molded into any shape, it did not conduct electricity and it was inexpensive.
Baekeland named the new material Bakelite, after himself. This plastic was the first entirely synthetic material to be produced in large quantities. It opened the way to the development of a whole world of new plastics.