In 1862, Alexander Parkes synthesized pyroxylin for coating photographic plates. And in 1863, James Wyatt created a substitute for ivory billiard balls by adding natural camphor to nitrate cellulose to form celluloid. Celluloid become the basis for the early plastic industry. Plastic was used for anything from umbrella handles to toys.

Early plastics presented many problems including being difficult to mold and the natural resources needed to make it were in short supply. In addition, celluloid was highly flammable! Since then many plastics have been synthesized that are safe. Plastic is now used for many things such as storage and protection. It is a cheap alternative to metal materials. Polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene are both commonly used plastics today. Without plastics, the world as we know it today would be very different.

*Pictures from Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia

Plastic. Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia Standard Edition 2002.

• Good basic source about the history and the uses of plastic.