Parkesine

Parkesine is an early type of plastic invented by Alexander Parkes in 1856 and patented in 1862. It was made from cellulose nitrate, derived from cotton or wood pulp, and modified with alcohol and solvents. Parkes first exhibited his invention at the 1862 International Exhibition in London, where it garnered considerable attention. Parkesine was notable for being the first man-made plastic material derived from natural cellulose.

The material could be molded when heated and hardened when cooled, making it versatile for manufacturing. It was promoted as a substitute for materials like ivory, tortoiseshell, and horn. Applications for Parkesine included decorative items, combs, buttons, and handles for cutlery. Despite its innovative nature, Parkesine was expensive to produce and proved somewhat unstable, tending to shrink and warp over time.

Parkes' company struggled financially, and the rights to Parkesine were eventually sold to the Daniel Spill Company. Daniel Spill later improved upon Parkesine, developing a more stable and commercially viable material called Xylonite. Xylonite, in turn, became a precursor to celluloid, a more widely adopted early plastic. Therefore, Parkesine is recognized as a significant milestone in the history of plastics, paving the way for future synthetic materials.