He was an inventor, chemist and industrialist. He studied chemistry at the University of Ghent in Belgium and later emigrated to the United States, where he worked for various chemical companies.
He is best known for his invention of the first synthetic plastic in 1907, a material made from phenol and formaldehyde, which he called "Bakelite" in reference to his own name. This material, also known as the "material of a thousand uses", revolutionized the world of materials science. It had many advantages over other materials of the time and quickly became popular in many industries. It was used for the manufacture of telephones, radios and electrical insulators, but also for the production of toys, kitchen utensils and jewelry. It is also used in the medical industry for the production of medical devices such as artificial joints and dental materials.
Baekeland received several patents for his invention of Bakelite and founded the Bakelite Corporation, which became one of the largest manufacturers of synthetic plastic in the world. Bakelite is a testament to Baekeland's creativity and innovation and will continue to play an important role in the world of materials science for many years to come.
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