Baekeland

American  

[beyk-land, bah-kuh-lahnt] / ˈbeɪkˌlænd, ˈbɑ kəˌlɑnt /

noun

1. Leo Hendrik 1863–1944, U.S. chemist, born in Belgium: developed Bakelite.

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Baekeland Scientific  

/ bāk′lănd′ /

1. Belgian-born American chemist who in 1907 developed Bakelite, the first plastic to harden permanently after heating. Originally used as an insulator, his invention proved to be a versatile and inexpensive material for manufacturing products such as telephones, cameras, and furniture.

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Example Sentences

Enck's book traces the history of plastic: from its earliest incarnation in 1909, when Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, through the "myth" of plastic recycling promoted by industry from the mid-20th century onward.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

The great-grandfathers of plastic – Alexander Parkes, John Wesley Wyatt and Leo Baekeland – undertook thousands of dangerous experiments with combustible ingredients in basements and lean-tos.

From The Guardian • Jul. 21, 2018

As it turned out, the plastic Leo Baekeland invented by combining formaldehyde with phenol, a waste product of coal, and subjecting the mixture to heat and pressure was infinitely more versatile than shellac.

From Scientific American • May 29, 2011

But the biggest tribute to Baekeland is the diversity of Mr. Groot’s collection, which spans decades, design periods and continents.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2010

Baekeland was a Belgian chemist, born at Ghent in 1863 and professor at Bruges.

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.