Which inventor created the first successful synthetic plastic, Bakelite, in 1907?

Leo Baekeland created Bakelite, the first successful synthetic plastic, in 1907.

Baekeland developed the material by reacting phenol with formaldehyde under controlled heat and pressure. The resulting thermosetting resin could be molded and would retain its shape after hardening. It was durable, heat-resistant, electrically insulating, and suitable for mass production.

Bakelite became important for telephone housings, radios, electrical components, cookware handles, jewelry, and many household objects. Its dark colors and molded appearance became strongly associated with early twentieth-century industrial design.

Bakelite was not the first plastic-like material. Earlier substances included celluloid, made from natural materials, and casein plastics. Baekeland’s achievement was creating a fully synthetic resin that could be manufactured reliably on an industrial scale. The name “Bakelite” comes from Baekeland’s surname.