Historical Events tagged with "Baekeland"
Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.
Leo Baekeland Creates Bakelite, First Synthetic Plastic
Leo Baekeland, a Belgian chemist, announced the creation of Bakelite, the world's first synthetic plastic, in 1907. This groundbreaking material was developed while he was researching ways to create a durable, heat-resistant substitute for shellac, a traditional natural material. Baekeland's innovation opened the door to new possibilities in manufacturing and design, making it easier to mass-produce various items, from electrical insulators to fashion accessories. This announcement marked a pivotal moment in materials science, leading to the widespread adoption of plastics in modern society.
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