Klarinet Archive - Posting 000106.txt from 1996/05

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Plastics
Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 18:30:46 -0400

On Mon, 6 May 1996, Steve Prescott wrote:

> Celluloid, a mixture of camphor and cellulose nitrate was the first
> synthetic plastic. It was invented by Alexander Parkes in 1856. Because
[snip]
> "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.

Steve, as I am even farther from being a chemist than from being a
musician, I have one other question about this. Fox says their bassoons
and oboes are made of a plastic called polypropylene. Where does that fit
in the list of plastics you gave above?

Ed Lacy
el2@-----.edu