Belgian-born chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863-1944), working independently, patented Bakelite in 1909. For several years Baekeland had been searching for a solvent to dissolve the product of a condensation reaction between formaldehyde and phenol. His intention was to use the solvent as a substitute for shellac. Because the residue was resistant to so many solvents, Baekeland became intrigued with it and began to search for a way to produce it in large quantities. He began to experiment with the substance, using a reaction vessel he built and named for himself, the Bakelizer. Baekeland found that by controlling the temperature and pressure of the reaction, he was able to produce a clear solid in large amounts. He called it Bakelite after himself.

For the first 10 years or so following its introduction, Bakelite was used primarily for electrical and automobile insulators, and in heavy industrial products. Eventually, Bakelite spread to the...