Leo Henrik Baekeland“The Father of Plastics” :
Leo Henrik Baekeland“The Father of Plastics” 1863-1944
Early Life :
Early Life Born Nov. 14, 1863
Attended the University of Ghent, in Belgium
Earned a PhD at age 21.
Photographic Interests :
Photographic Interests Moved to America to work for E. and H.T. Anthony photographic company
Invented Velox, a
photo paper that could
be developed in artificial
light.
Sold Velox in 1899 for
1 million dollars.
Bakelite :
Bakelite The first fully synthetic plastic
Originally developed as a substitute for shellac
Made from the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde
Used as a substitute for
marble
Bakelite’s Many Uses :
Bakelite’s Many Uses
Decline :
Decline Fought with son, George, over money.
Sold the General Bakelite Company in 1939.
Became a recluse,
obsessed with turning
his Florida estate into a
tropical garden.
Legacy :
Legacy Great-grandson murdered his mother in 1972.
Made into the film Savage Grace, in 2007. Barbara Daly Baekeland and her son Antony.
Slide 9:
September 22,1924