On 28 July 1907 an American chemist and inventor whose name would become synonymous with plastic food containers was born.
Associate Curator of Chemistry Rupert Cole investigates the chemistry and history behind 3 essential World Cup objects: the trophy, the ball and the kit.
Curator of Chemistry, Sophie Waring, explores the lasting legacy of Bakelite®.
As part of our Illuminating India season we take a look at the prosthetic that revolutionised medical care in India.
Rachel Boon blogs on creating a new display to explore the life and legacy of Alexander Parkes.
Sue Mossman explores the life of Alexander Parkes, inventor of early plastics.
Formica is 100 this year. Best known as the laminate associated with the 1950s and 60s colour explosion in surface coverings, what’s probably less well known is that it was originally an insulation material for the electrical industry. Formica literally stands for ‘for mica’, as it was developed as a synthetic plastic substitute for expensive mineral mica. It was made by binding layers of cloth or paper together with a phenolic resin (originally Bakelite®). Engineer Dan O’Conor filed for a […]