When was the world's first synthetic plastic resin developed?

'Bakelite' was the first plastic made from synthetic components. It is a thermo-setting phenol-formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. It was developed by the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland in Yonkers, New York in 1907, and patented in 1909. Baekeland called his plastic 'Bakelite'.

The creation of a synthetic plastic was revolutionary for its electrical non-conductivity and Its properties made it suited for a much wider variety of purposes. It was used for electrical insulators, radio and telephone casings and even such diverse products as jewelry, kitchenware, pipe stems, clocks, transistors, toys and firearms.

'Bakelite' jewelry became immensely popular in the 1920's as an affordable and attractive replacement for other materials. It came in several colors, including translucent and marbled shades by the 1950's. 'Bakelite' jewelry from this era often had striking patterns, such as polka dots & chevrons, and could be carved into intricate shapes. Real 'Bakelite' cannot melt or be burned.

In recent years the retro appeal of old 'Bakelite' products has made them collectable. Antique 'Bakelite' items, from household appliances to jewellery, are now displayed in museums and sold for large sums among collectors. 'Bakelite' was officially designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark in November 1993, by the American Chemical Society in recognition of its significance as the 'world's first synthetic plastic'.