Leo Baekeland | |
|---|---|
 Baekeland in 1916 | |
| Born | Leo Hendrik Baekeland November 14, 1863 Ghent, Belgium |
| Died | February 23, 1944 (aged 80) Beacon, New York, U.S. |
| Education | University of Ghent |
| Occupation(s) | Chemist, inventor |
| Known for | Plastics research, Bakelite, Novolac, Velox photographic paper |
| Spouse |
Céline Swarts (m. 1889) |
| Children | Jenny Nina Rose Baekeland (October 9, 1890 – 1895) George Washington Baekeland (February 8, 1895 – January 31, 1966) Nina Baekeland (July 22, 1896 – May 19, 1975) |
| Awards | John Scott Medal (1910) William H. Nichols Medal (1910) Willard Gibbs Award (1913) Perkin Medal (1916)[1] Franklin Medal (1940) |
| Signature | |
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Leo Hendrik Baekeland HonFRSE (November 14, 1863 – February 23, 1944) was a Belgian chemist. Educated in Belgium and Germany, he spent most of his career in the United States. He is best known for the inventions of Velox photographic paper in 1893, and Bakelite in 1907. He has been called "The Father of the Plastics Industry"[2] for his invention of Bakelite, an inexpensive, non-flammable and versatile plastic, which marked the beginning of the modern plastics industry.[3][4]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Perkinwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Landmarks of the Plastics Industry. England: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., Plastics Division. 1962. pp. 13–25.
- ^ Bowden, Mary Ellen (1997). "Leo Baekeland". Chemical achievers : the human face of the chemical sciences. Philadelphia, PA: Chemical Heritage Foundation. ISBN 9780941901123.
- ^ Amato, Ivan (March 29, 1999). "Time 100: Leo Baekeland". Archived from the original on April 7, 2000. Retrieved November 8, 2007.