The Invention of Bakelite
When asked why he entered the field of synthetic resins, Baekeland answered "to make money." His first objective was to find a replacement for shellac (made from the excretion of lac beetles). Chemists had begun to recognize that many of the natural resins and fibers were polymers. Baekeland began to investigate the reactions of phenol and formaldehyde. He first produced a soluble phenol-formaldehyde shellac called "Novolak" that never became a market success as a brand, but still exists as Novolac. He then turned to developing a binder for asbestos, which at that time was molded with rubber. By controlling the pressure and temperature applied to phenol and formaldehyde, he could produce his dreamed-of hard moldable plastic: Bakelite. The official name of Bakelite is polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride. His process patent for making insoluble products of phenol and formaldehyde was filed in July 1907, and granted on December 7, 1909.
In February 1909 Baekeland officially announced his achievement at a meeting of the New York section of the American Chemical Society.
In 1922, after patent litigation favorable to Baekeland, the General Bakelite Co., which he had founded in 1910, along with the Condensite Co. founded by Aylesworth, and the Redmanol Chemical Products Co. founded by L.V. Redman, were merged into the Bakelite Corporation.
The invention of Bakelite marks the beginning of the Age of Plastics. Bakelite was made from phenol (then known as carbolic acid) and formaldehyde. These can be mixed, heated, and then either molded or extruded. Adolf von Baeyer experimented with this material in 1872, but did not complete its development. Bakelite took the industry by storm after 1907.
Bakelite was the first plastic invented that held its shape after being heated. Radios, telephones and electrical insulators were made of Bakelite because of its properties of insulation and heat-resistance. Soon it penetrated nearly all branches of industry.
At his death in 1944, the world production of bakelite was ca. 175.000 ton, and it was used in over 15000 different articles.
Baekeland was awarded the Franklin Medal in 1940.
Read more about this topic: Leo Baekeland
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