The first plastic-type material was unveiled by Alexander Parkes at the Great International Exhibition in London in 1862. Parkes claimed that his new material could do anything that rubber was capable of, but at a much lower price. This material could be moulded into thousands of different shapes.
Cellophane
In 1913, Dr Jacques
Edwin Brandenberger invented a wipeable surface by adding a clear, flexible film to cloth. Brandenberger invented cellophane. Now it is widely used for packaging and is a fully flexible, waterproof wrap.
Bakelite telephone
In 1907, a New York chemist, Leo Bakeland, created a liquid resin which he named Bakelite. This resin could be moulded into any shape and it would not burn, boil or melt when it was set. Bakelite was the first thermosetting plastic which would always keep its shape and form.
V Kevlar
In a laboratory in 1965, two research scientists created a new fibre. They named it Kevlar. It was strong, light and flexible. Today it is used for sports equipment, bullet-proof vests and for ropes used on the expedition to Mars.
Nylon stockings
In 1939, nylon stockings were unveiled and were extremely popular with many women during the war years (1939-1945). Nylon replaced animal hair in toothbrushes, and silk in stockings.
Velcro
In 1957, George de Maestral was so impressed with the way that cocklebars — a type of vegetation — used thousands of tiny hooks to cling to anything, he invented a product, using nylon, that would replicate this natural phenomenon. He called it Velcro.
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