The first artificial plastic material was cellulose nitrate (celluloid), which was developed by A. Parkes in 1862. Actually, Parkes did not discover this chemical entity (cellulose nitrate), but he was the first to transform it into a plastic material that could be used for the industry. As a matter of fact, Parkes discovered that camphor could be used as an effective plastic-coat for cellulose nitrate, giving therefore mouldable mixtures. For over a century, nobody was to found a better plastic-coat for cellulose nitrate. However, A. Parkes did not look for industrial perspectives.

In the United States, the use of camphor was discovered in 1869 by John Wesley HYATT, who filed a patent for a combination that he named "celluloid". His initial goal was in fact to find a material that could replace the natural ivory used in the manufacture of the billiards balls. Thereafter, celluloid started to be used in different fields : the manufacture of toys (baby dolls), clothing (shirts collars and wrists), paintings and varnishes and finally photographic films are few examples of the applications found for celluloid. It is important to bear in mind that the raw material used to make this first artificial plastic material, is a natural product : the cellulose.

The first synthetic plastic material is the phenol formaldehyde resin (bakelite) which was developed in 1907, simultaneously by L.Baekeland and J.Swinburne. The original patent belongs to L.Baekeland as J. Swinburne's one was filed one day later.

Meanwhile, other plastics based on natural products were fabricated :

Progress was slow and 60 years after cellulose nitrate had been discovered, only four plastics could be used.

In fact, the rapid development in plastic adventure started to happen in 1930 when the true nature of plastics was cleared up by a German chemist : Staudinger. This scientist was the first to propose the theory whereby plastics and rubbers consist of giant molecules called "macromolecules". Staudinger also discovered Polystyrene (1930).

Carothers is another famous name in plastic history. This American chemist was the author of a fundamental research on the nature and formation of high polymers. His works led to discover PA6 (Nylon) in 1938. Carothers also established the concepts of addition polymers and condensation polymers.

A sharp increase in the demand for all types of plastics occurred during the second world war. The fact that natural rubber and textile fibres could not be imported anymore led to the manufacture of new materials such as plastic coated polyvinyl chloride, synthetic rubber, polyamide fabrics (to replace silk), silicones, polytetrafluorethylene, terephthalate polyethylene, polyurethans, 6/6 polyamide, epoxy resins (araldite). When the war ended, new plastics started to be discovered and the existing ones became use widespread.

In 1955, Karl Ziegler was able to polymerise ethylene, independently of the current method which involved very high pressures. He actually used special catalysts and could reduce pressures to a slightly higher level than the atmospheric pressure. The product that was obtained showed a greater density, an increased rigidity and a higher melting point when compared to the polyethylene known at that time.

In 1957, professor Natta, in Italy, succeeded in carrying out the polymerisation of organised (isostatic) polypropylene by using a directed catalysis (stereo-specific). This polypropylene shows a rigidity comparable to that of new high density polyethylenes, as well as a harder and more brilliant surface and a higher melting point. Until this discovery, polypropylene polymerisation had failed, giving only flexible rubber materials. A significant result of the stereo-specific catalysis was the synthesis of natural rubber, which was finally realised.

Other types of materials made their appearance in the fifties : polycarbonates and polyacetals, polyamide 11 (Rilsan). These materials were hard, rigid and showed a great resistance to temperature.

Since then, petrochemistry has greatly contributed to the synthesis of new polymers. Their characteristics are constantly improved thanks to R & D laboratories all throughout the world. In this last period, highlights of plastic manufacture can be listed as follows :

• 1964 : Alteration of oxide polyphenylene
• 1964 : Polyamide
• 1965 : Polysulphone
• 1966 : Polyamide 12
• 1970 : Terephthalate polyethylene (technical material)
• 1972 : Polyethersulphone
• More recently, other materials like fluorinated polymers, polyphenylene sulphides, terephthalate polybutylene, polymers liquid crystals, composites with new synthetic fibres (glass, carbon), radiated polymer.