It then delves into the history of bakelite a plasticwhich was invented by the greatgrandfather of the family leo hendrik baekeland in the early 20th century. He also made bakelite 1907, an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic, which marks the beginning of the modern plastics industry. It was named for its inventor, leo hendrik baekeland 18631944, who discovered the durable plastic in 1907. It was invented by a successful scientist named leo hendrik baekeland. Leo hendrik baekeland an american scientist, born in belgium, who was recently awarded the perkin medal for eminence in the field of industrial chemical research. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. The linked data service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the library of congress. Colorful objects made of bakelitejewelry, telephones, radios, and billiard balls, to name just a fewbrightened everyday life in the first half of the 20th century. Leo hendrik baekeland was an industrial chemist famous for his invention of bakelite, the first moldable synthetic polymer, and for his invention of velox photographic paper. He gained a scholarship from the city of ghent to study chemistry at the university of ghent. He joined the faculty at ghent, which was then a leading.
In his exploration of baekeland \s long career, joris mercelis traces baekeland \s life from his youth in belgium through his education and immigration to the united states, and highlights baekeland \s other bestknown invention, velox photographic paper. The son of a shoemaker and a maid, baekeland was born in ghent, belgium in 1863. He has been called the father of the plastics industry. Leo hendrik baekeland national academy of sciences. Leo hendrik baekeland frsehon november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgianborn american chemist. Velox photographic papers 1907 leo hendrik baekeland discovers bakelite which are made from phenol and formaldehyde which are the first fullysynthetic plastic. The fall of the house of baekeland the washington post. Leo baekeland was a belgian chemist who invented velox photographic paper and bakelite, an inexpensive, nonflammable, widely used and versatile plastic. The bakelite company history is also incompletely documented in this collection. Baekeland was born on november 14, 1863, in ghent, belgium. Thermosetting meant that it could not be melted or changed by heating once formed. He was born in belgium, in the flemish city of ghent, on november 14, 1863. Kuburanna leo hendrik baekeland leo hendrik baekeland leo henricus arthur baekeland nyaeta urang amerika anu lahir di gumelar di belgia, 14 oktober 1863 tilar dunya di new york, 23 pebruari 1944 dina umur 80 taun nyaeta salah saurang ahli kimia. Leo henricus arthur baekeland, a belgianamerican chemist, was born nov.
Leo baekeland was born on november 14, 1863 in sintmartenslatem, belgium, but has spent majority of his youth and young adult life ghent, belgium. Yet there is much more to leo baekeland \s story than bakelite. Associate professor of chemistry baekeland graduated with honors from the ghent municipal technical school and was awarded a. Some aspects of industrial chemistry by baekeland l. He graduated from high school first in his class when he was 16 and earned a scholarship to the university of ghent. The format is essentially like a relay race in which dozens offer pieces of story before handing the baton to. Kettering leo hendrik baekeland was horn in belgium, in the flemish city of ghent, on november 14, 1863. He has been called the father of the plastics industry for his invention of bakelite, an inexpensive, nonflammable and versatile plastic, which marked. He founded 1893 and conducted, until 1899, when he sold the rights to eastman, a company for producing a photographic paper of his own invention. Leo baekeland was born in ghent, belgium, baekeland was the son of a cobbler and a house maid. Science history institutegregory tobias a polymeric plastic.
Babcockthe national inventors hall of famerodney bagley. The history of bakelite, collecting and caring for early. Leo hendrick baekeland and the invention of bakelite. Apr, 2019 the first commerciallyused synthetic plastic was bakelite. He has been called the father of the plastics industry 2. His discovery coming from finding a replacement for shellac, which at that time was made from the. Baekeland s career as an inventor and innovator was punctuated by an urge to improve existing technologies and a willingness to experiment both meticulously and daringly. Leo hendrik baekeland was born in ghent, belgium, in 1863. The first plastic based on a synthetic polymer was made from phenol and formaldehyde, with the first viable and cheap synthesis methods invented in by leo hendrik baekeland, a belgianborn american living in new york state. Leo hendrik 2009, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The university of pittsburgh conferred him with an honorary doctor of chemistry in 1916. Baekelands career as an inventor and innovator was punctuated by an urge to improve existing technologies and a willingness to experiment both meticulously and daringly.
Leo hendrik baekeland ghent, november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgian chemist. Nov 14, 2016 leo henricus arthur baekeland, a belgianamerican chemist, was born nov. A polymeric plastic made from phenol and formaldehyde, bakelite was one of the earliest synthetic materials to transform the material basis of modern life. Leo hendrik baekeland students britannica kids homework. As a young boy, he read benjamin franklins autobiography, sparking a love of. Born in ghent, belgium, in 1863, baekeland immigrated to the united states in 1889. Portrait of leo hendrik baekeland, early 20th century. A family motor tour through europe classic reprint paperback november 30, 2017 by leo hendrik baekeland author. Leo baekeland was born in sintmartenslatem near ghent, belgium, baekeland was the son of a cobbler and a maid. Leo baekelands legacy 100 years of plastics burkhard e. The history of bakelite, collecting and caring for early plastics. Bakelite first synthetic plastic national historic chemical. Carl kaufmann is related to the baekeland family through marriage and is the author of the only fulllength biography of baekeland, published as a masters thesis from the university.
Leo baekeland scientist of the day linda hall library. Nov 04, 2011 leo baekelands legacy 100 years of plastics burkhard e. His first major invention was velox, a photographic printing paper that could be developed under artificial light. It was patented by belgian born leo hendrik baekeland in new york, in 1907, and was the first truly synthetic and thermosetting plastic. Datasets available include lcsh, bibframe, lc name authorities, lc classification, marc codes, premis vocabularies, iso language codes, and more.
After uprooting his academic career at the university of ghent at age 35, he emigrated to the united states to reinvent himself in a host of diverse roles. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. Protection of intellectual property baekeland, leo hendrik 1863 on. Leo hendrik baekeland was an industrial chemist famous for his invention of. Yet there is much more to leo baekeland\s story than bakelite. Bakelite was the first thermosetting plastic a plastic that does not soften when heated. Leo hendrik baekeland 18631944 was one of the icons of the american industrial age, and a source of inspiration for later entrepreneurs in industry and academe. Bakelite was the major form of art plastic from the 1930s through to the 1950s. There he graduated with honors from ghent municipal technical school, attended university of ghenthe and acquired a phd in the field of electrochemistry maxima cum laude at the age of 21. Entering school at the age of 5, he passed through the elementary schools and the atheneum. Belgiumborn american industrial chemist leo hendrik baekeland helped found the modern plastics industry through his invention of bakelite.
As a young boy, he read benjamin franklins autobiography, sparking a love of america that would last his entire life. Biography of leo hendrick baekeland 18631944 like many of the people who have made important contributions to american life, leo hendrik baekeland was an immigrant. Protection of intellectual property paperback august 29, 2016 by leo hendrik 1863 baekeland author. He graduated with honours from the ghent municipal technical school and was awarded a scholarship by the city of ghent to study chemistry at the university of ghent. Leo baekeland biography childhood, life achievements. Leo baekeland, in full leo hendrik baekeland, born november 14, 1863, ghent, belgiumdied february 23, 1944, beacon, new york, u.
In his exploration of baekeland\s long career, joris mercelis traces baekeland\s life from his youth in belgium through his education and immigration to the united states, and highlights baekeland\s other bestknown invention, velox photographic paper. Leo baekeland invented bakelite, a polymeric plastic made from phenol and formaldehyde, answer to guess the chemist 26. Baekeland, leo hendrik, 1863publication date 1907 topics europe description and travel publisher. Dedicated november 9, 1993, at the national museum of american history in washington, d.
Leo baekeland, in full leo hendrik baekeland, born november 14, 1863, ghent. His father, a cobbler, opposed his sons wish for an education and apprenticed him at age to a. His invention of the first synthetic plastic, bakelite, proved cheaper and more versatile than other substances, and has since been used in everything from pot handles to electronics. His creation of lowcost, incombustible and flexible plastic bakelite that paved the way for the modernized plastic industry earned him the epithet the father of the plastics industry. On my recent visit to hughs house, i was able to find out many things about leo baekeland and the history of bakelite as well as family stories that may not be in the history books. The first commerciallyused synthetic plastic was bakelite. Leo hendrik baekeland gent, november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgian chemist. His invention of bakelite, an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic, marked the beginning of the modern plastics industry. Leo henricus arthur baekeland november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgianborn american chemist. The first two chapters come from the perspective of baekeland family members. He invented velox photographic paper in 1893 and bakelite in 1907. After moving from ghent to new york city, baekeland in 1899 invented a new kind of photographic paperveloxthat could record images in artificial light. We can list him as industrial researcher, successful inventor. Leo hendrik baekeland was born november 14, 1863 in ghent, belgium.
Leo hendrik baekeland wikipedia sunda, ensiklopedi bebas. Baekeland november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgianborn american chemist who invented velox photographic paper 1893 and bakelite 1907, an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic. Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic to transform the world openmind. A1940 time magazine article called leo hendrik baekeland the father of plastic, and with good reason. Today these vintage consumer goods are prized by antique dealers and collectors. He founded 1893 and conducted, until 1899, when he sold the rights to eastman, a company for producing a. Baekeland was an assistant professor of chemistry from 1885 to 1889. Baekeland sold the rights velox to george eastman and kodak for for one million dollars in 1899. Leo hendrik baekeland was horn in belgium, in the flemish city of ghent, on. At 21 he received his doctorate degree with highest honors. Martenslatem, belgium, leo hendrick baekeland was the son of a cobbler karel baekeland and a housemaid rosalia merchie. Leo hendrik baekeland was born on november 14, 1863 in gent, belgium. Leo hendrik baekeland frse hon november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgian chemist. He is best known for the inventions of velox photographic paper in 1893 and bakelite in 1907.