Klarinet Archive - Posting 000104.txt from 1996/05

From: Steve Prescott <mipresc@-----.EDU>
Subj: Plastics
Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 17:42:52 -0400

FYI:

A while back there was quite a discussion on plastics and their uses. I
finally found a few minutes to gather a brief history:

Celluloid, a mixture of camphor and cellulose nitrate was the first
synthetic plastic. It was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1856. Because
of its flammability, it was only used in smaller products (billiard balls,
piano keys etc.)Of course, I think we are all familiar with celluloid and
its use in the photographic industry.

"Bakelite" (phenol-formaldehyde) was invented by Leo Baekeland in
1909 and is considered the second synthetic plastic. A number of
synthetics plastics were developed shortly before World War II, these
include CASEIN, POLYESTERS, NYLON, VINYL (polyvinyl chloride), polyethylene
and polystyrene. More recently, other plastics have been developed, those
being epoxies, TEFLON, polysulfones, polycarbonate and SILICONES.

Plastics other than those that are carbon based have been developed
but the results have been disappointing and thus they (the plastics) are
not commercially available.

Steve.

Steve Prescott
Instrument Rep.Tech./ Clarinetist
Indiana State University
mipresc@-----.edu