Who discovered Bakelite?
In 1907 the famous Bakelite was discovered by a Belgian-born New York chemist, Leo Hendrik Baekeland. He previously invented Velox photographic paper. Many of Baekeland's projects were done in his home laboratory in Yonkers, New York with his assistant Nathaniel Thurlow. German chemist Adolf Luft, patented a resin with the thought of competing commercially with celluloid. Many other scientist tried combinations of phenol and formaldehyde, trying to come up with a plastic moulding compound, but no one was able to create a useful item. Until June 18, 1907, when Baekeland began his new laboratory notebook and tests. After finally inventing Bakelite he then made his first public announcement on February 8, 1909.
In 1907 the famous Bakelite was discovered by a Belgian-born New York chemist, Leo Hendrik Baekeland. He previously invented Velox photographic paper. Many of Baekeland's projects were done in his home laboratory in Yonkers, New York with his assistant Nathaniel Thurlow. German chemist Adolf Luft, patented a resin with the thought of competing commercially with celluloid. Many other scientist tried combinations of phenol and formaldehyde, trying to come up with a plastic moulding compound, but no one was able to create a useful item. Until June 18, 1907, when Baekeland began his new laboratory notebook and tests. After finally inventing Bakelite he then made his first public announcement on February 8, 1909.
What led to the invention of Bakelite?
After the invention of Velox photographic paper was made by Leo Hendrik Baekeland, his first objective was to find a replacement for shellac. When chemists started to recognize that many of the natural resins and fibres useful for coatings, adhesives, woven fabrics, and the like were polymers, they began to search for combinations and reagent that would react to form synthetic polymers. Baekeland first produced a shellac called "Novolak" which never became a market success. By carefully controlling the pressure and temperature, he produced a polymer that could produce a hard mouldable plastic when mixed with fillers, Bakelite.
After the invention of Velox photographic paper was made by Leo Hendrik Baekeland, his first objective was to find a replacement for shellac. When chemists started to recognize that many of the natural resins and fibres useful for coatings, adhesives, woven fabrics, and the like were polymers, they began to search for combinations and reagent that would react to form synthetic polymers. Baekeland first produced a shellac called "Novolak" which never became a market success. By carefully controlling the pressure and temperature, he produced a polymer that could produce a hard mouldable plastic when mixed with fillers, Bakelite.