more about Plastic!

Plastic is usually seen as modern, although it goes back further than you might think with a few surprises

1850

Celluloid - used to make dental plates, shirt collar stiffeners

Shellac - used to make photograph records

Celluloid - Developed to make photographic film

Casein plastics - made from curdled skimmed milk, boxes and small items

1900

bakelite - cabinets, containers

rayon - Clothing, stockings

cellophane - packaging, sticky tape

nylon - engineering plastic and for clothing and stockings

pvc - Pipes, wire insulation

1930

Perspex - aircraft windows

polystyrene toothbrushes, packaging, models

1940

PET – Initially as a fibre ‘Terylene’ & ‘Dacron’ to make shirts – much later for drinks bottles

Teflon – later used for non-stick pans

1950

Polyethylene – Bags, containers (Tupperware), packaging, toys

Polypropylene – Bags containers, packaging film, ropes

1970

PEEK, POM, PES, PPS Polycarbonate, Zytel – Many engineering plastics for specialist applications

1990

Novon, Biopal – Bio-degradable plastics developed