Timeline Friday 5 February 1909

Events on Friday 5 February 1909 1

• 1909 Leo Baekeland unveils Bakelite First fully synthetic plastic announced to chemists Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland presented his new synthetic resin, Bakelite, to the American Chemical Society on 5 February 1909. Made from phenol and formaldehyde, it was the first plastic manufactured entirely from synthetic components rather than modified natural materials. Bakelite's durability and moldability made it widely used in electrical and consumer goods for decades.