As a young boy, he read benjamin franklins autobiography, sparking a love of america that would last his entire life. He has been called the father of the plastics industry for his invention of bakelite, an inexpensive, nonflammable and versatile plastic, which marked. Leo baekeland scientist of the day linda hall library. 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 has been called the father of the plastics industry. Leo hendrik baekeland 1863 1944 journal of chemical education acs publications leo hendrik baekeland 1863. Leo hendrik baekeland frse hon november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgian chemist. Protection of intellectual property paperback august 29, 2016 by leo hendrik 1863 baekeland author see all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Leo baekeland 1863 1944 leo henricus arthur baekeland november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgium born, american chemist. The fall of the house of baekeland the washington post. A hard, infusible, and chemically resistant plastic, bakelite was based on a chemical combination of phenol and formaldehyde phenolformaldehyde resin, two compounds that were derived. 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.
The format is essentially like a relay race in which dozens offer pieces of story before handing the baton to. According to people onboard the ship, he later said that his greatgrandfather was leo hendrik baekeland, a belgian immigrant and chemist famous for inventing the precursor to modern plastic in 1907. It was invented by a successful scientist named leo hendrik baekeland. Leo hendrik baekeland 18631944 journal of chemical. Leo hendrik baekeland was born on november 14, 1863 and died on february 23, 1944. Leo hendrik baekeland was an industrial chemist famous for his invention of. Born in ghent, belgium, in 1863, baekeland immigrated to the united states in 1889. Nov 14, 2016 leo henricus arthur baekeland, a belgianamerican chemist, was born nov. We can list him as industrial researcher, successful inventor, ceo and.
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. Bakelite first synthetic plastic national historic chemical. 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. In the same year 1907 leo baekeland took his first patents on the method to control the reaction of formaldehyde and phenol bakelite this 1907 book is part of our bakelite and plastics collection. After moving from ghent to new york city, baekeland in 1899 invented a new kind of photographic paperveloxthat could record images in artificial light.
Leo hendrik 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 very popular plastic. Today these vintage consumer goods are prized by antique dealers and collectors. The first commerciallyused synthetic plastic was bakelite. Kettering leo hendrik baekeland was horn in belgium, in the flemish city of ghent, on november 14, 1863. Bakelite, trademarked synthetic resin invented in 1907 by belgianborn american chemist leo hendrik baekeland. Leo hendrik baekeland national academy of sciences. He also made bakelite 1907, an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic, which marks the beginning of the modern plastics industry references. Bakelite was the first thermosetting plastic a plastic that does not soften when heated. Science history institutegregory tobias a polymeric plastic.
Leo hendrik baekeland was born november 14, 1863 in ghent, belgium. Science history institute but baekelands invention also paved the way for a new synthetic plastics industry with countless applications. 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. Leo hendrik baekeland ghent, november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgian chemist. Entering school at the age of 5, he passed through the elementary schools and the atheneum. Datasets available include lcsh, bibframe, lc name authorities, lc classification, marc codes, premis vocabularies, iso language codes, and more. A family motor tour through europe classic reprint. Leo baekeland was born in ghent, belgium, baekeland was the son of a cobbler and a house maid.
Leo hendrik baekeland gent, november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgian chemist. Leo baekeland, in full leo hendrik baekeland, born november 14, 1863, ghent, belgiumdied february 23, 1944, beacon, new york, u. He invented velox photographic paper in 1893 and bakelite in 1907. At 21 he received his doctorate degree with highest honors. Project has sponsored a touring exhibition, a documentary film and power point presentations, designed to celebrate the life of l. Apr, 2019 the first commerciallyused synthetic plastic was bakelite. Saat di bangku sekolah prestasi juara selalu diraih hingga umur 16 tahun baekeland tamat pendidikan sekolah menengah atas. 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. Portrait of leo hendrik baekeland, early 20th century. Presented to the academy at the autumn meeting, 1946 by charles franklin kettering book. Leo henricus arthur baekeland was a belgianamerican chemist wellknown for his discovery of photographic paper velox and polymeric plastic bakelite. She was the exwife of brooks baekeland, who was the grandson of leo baekeland, inventor of bakelite plastic. 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. He is best known for the inventions of velox photographic paper in 1893 and bakelite in 1907.
Leo hendrik baekeland 1863 1944 journal of chemical education acs publications leo hendrik baekeland 1863 1944. Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic to transform the. The son of a shoemaker and a maid, baekeland was born in ghent, belgium in 1863. Leo hendrik baekeland born in sintmartenslatem on 14 november 1863 died on 23 february 1944 was a belgian chemist who invented velox photographic paper 1893 and bakelite 1907, an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic if you ever get a chance, please visit the bakelite museum in williton, somerset, england, an amazing place if you are interested. Leo baekeland was born on november 14, 1863 in sintmartenslatem, belgium, but has spent majority of his youth and young adult life ghent, belgium. 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. Bakelite was an important step in the development of the plastics industry and the entrance of plastics into peoples every day lives, science writer susan freinkel, author of plastic. Baekeland sold the rights velox to george eastman and kodak for for one million dollars in 1899. Leo hendrik baekeland 18631944 lahir di ghen, belgia, pada 14 november 1863. The first two chapters come from the perspective of baekeland family members. Leo hendrik baekeland would have been 80 years old at the time of death or 151 years old today.
Access more than 140,000 print volumes, rare books and manuscripts, archival materials, and historical. May 16, 2018 according to people onboard the ship, he later said that his greatgrandfather was leo hendrik baekeland, a belgian immigrant and chemist famous for inventing the precursor to modern plastic in 1907. A family motor tour through europe classic reprint paperback november 30, 2017 by leo hendrik baekeland author. Sejak kecil dia adalah seorang pelajar yang cerdas. A history of leo baekeland and his bakelite synthesisthe starting point of the age. The history of this adventure was published in 1907 by the horseless age in their magazine and a book. Dedicated november 9, 1993, at the national museum of american history in washington, d. Belgiumborn american industrial chemist leo hendrik baekeland helped found the modern plastics industry through his invention of bakelite. He was a son of charles and rosalie merchie baekeland, a belgian family of moderate circumstances.
Harding of the national museum of american history. Protection of intellectual property baekeland, leo hendrik 1863 on. Leo hendrik baekeland students britannica kids homework. Barbara daly baekeland september 28, 1921 november 17, 1972 was a wealthy american socialite who was murdered by her son, antony tony baekeland. His first major invention was velox, a photographic printing paper that could be developed under artificial light. He graduated from high school first in his class when he was 16 and earned a scholarship to the university of ghent. The university of pittsburgh conferred him with an honorary doctor of chemistry in 1916.
Baekeland was an assistant professor of chemistry from 1885 to 1889. 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. Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic to transform the world openmind. 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. He also made bakelite 1907, an inexpensive, nonflammable, versatile, and popular plastic, which marks the beginning of the modern plastics industry. The linked data service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the library of congress. As a young boy, he read benjamin franklins autobiography, sparking a love of. Leo hendrik baekeland frsehon november 14, 1863 february 23, 1944 was a belgianborn american chemist. 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. The bakelite company history is also incompletely documented in this collection. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. Leo baekeland and bakelite are the topics of the first four chapters of this volume. Leo hendrik baekeland was born in ghent, belgium, in 1863.
Leo hendrik baekeland was born on november 14, 1863 in gent, belgium. A1940 time magazine article called leo hendrik baekeland the father of plastic, and with good reason. Leo baekeland simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. Dikarenakan kecerdasannya mendapat beasiswa kuliah di uniersitas ghent. George washington baekeland 18951966 withgrace bell 19041986 nina baekeland 18961975 married 22 december 1919, yonkers, westchester co. 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. Leo baekeland diary volume 5, 19091910 smithsonian digital.
Leo baekeland biography childhood, life achievements. Examines the life and scientific contributions of leo hendrik baekeland. Wagner history of interpenetrating polymer networks starting with bakelite. Baekeland was born on november 14, 1863, in ghent, belgium. Leo baekeland diary volume 5, 19091910 about the project leo hendrik baekeland 18631944 was a belgiumborn, american chemist whose inventions include velox photographic paper and the versatile, popular plastic bakelite. Bakelite goes into the history of bakelite chemistry, while burkhard wagners contribution leo baekelands legacy100 years of plastics covers the history of bakelite manufacture through time and space, finishing with a description of another baekeland legacy, the baekeland award given through. This invention made the family very wealthy and was also used in the atomic bomb, i had no idea of this until i read the book. Leo hendrik baekeland was horn in belgium, in the flemish city of ghent, on.
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