A History of Plastics

THINK!!!!

Before you read this, take a moment, think of and observe the things made out of plastics around you.

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ASK!!!!!

What are plastics and how did they come about? What materials were those things made out of 50-100 years ago? What triggered the change?  Can I live comfortably today without plastics?

...Read on to know my thoughts on the matter...

Plastics are a set of natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. If synthetic, they are made out of raw materials from natural products like wood, salt, crude oil, wool, cellulose, or natural gas.

FUN FACTS!!!! 

• The first recorded mention of plastics was in 1284 (more than 800 years ago), with horn and turtle shell being the earliest natural plastics.

• In 1872, the Hyatt brothers invented the first plastic injection molding machine. Injection molding is a technique used for manufacturing parts by injecting molten material into a mold.

• In 1880, cellulose nitrate plastic replaced the horn as the material of choice for combs as long hair became more fashionable.

• Just 10 years later, baby rattles were also manufactured using plastics

• Bakelite, the first synthetic, mass-produced plastic was invented in 1907

• In 1933, polyethylene was produced commercially and used in the war of the 1940s. Various items like raincoats, boots, and helmets, and even fighter aircraft were made out of plastics.

• At the end of the war in 1945, many of the companies that made plastic supplies for the war transitioned to make consumer products like shampoo and milk bottles. 

• In 1950, the first polyethylene bag appeared on the scene.

Can we live comfortably today without Plastics?

...Read my thoughts on the subject next week. Feel free to drop your thoughts as well.