Plastics encompass a wide range of synthetic and semi-synthetic materials created from large repeating molecules called polymers. The Institute’s collections include a wide variety of materials documenting the history of the study of polymers, the development of plastics, the plastic industry, synthetic fibers, microplastics, works depicting or created by early pioneers of the field, and other related topics. Browse the digitized materials in this digital collection to learn more about plastics and synthetic fibers from the lab to your living room.
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Take Another Look At Plastic advertisement, 1992
- Some Benefits Of Plastic Last For Only Half A Second
- 1992
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring two people in a car with deployed airbags. The ad promotes the use of plastic in life-saving products such as airbags, bike helmets, fire-resistant clothing, and…
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Plastics Make It Possible advertisement, 1999
- Defense Dept.
- 1999
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring various food packaging. The ad explains how plastic food packaging can be your line of defense against food spoiling or tampering.
Beginning in 1993, the…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Food--Safety measures, Food--Packaging, Plastics in packaging
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Plastics Make It Possible advertisement, 2001
- 2001
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring a person riding a mountain bike. The ad praises the use of plastic safety gear and how it can promote safety while still being fearless.
Beginning in 1993, the…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Bicycle helmets, Personal protective equipment, Children in advertising
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Plastics Make It Possible advertisement, 1999
- Crash Diet
- 1999
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring a plastic soft drink bottle hitting a surface. The ad boasts how plastic liter bottles are slimmer, lighter, and shatter-resistant, thus being a superior form of…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Plastics in packaging, Soft drinks
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Plastics Make It Possible advertisement, 1995
- Plastics. An Important Part Of Your Healthy Diet.
- 1995
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring food stored in plastic packaging. The text praises how plastic food storage prevents food from spoiling quickly.
Beginning in 1993, the American Plastics…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Food--Storage
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Take Another Look At Plastic advertisement, 1993
- How To Save The Planet And The Picnic At The Same Time.
- 1993
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring food on a picnic blanket in plastic packaging and food storage. The text praises how plastic keeps food fresh and is environmentally friendly.
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Plastics--Environmental aspects, Plastics--Recycling, Food--Storage
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Plastic Makes It Possible advertisement, 1993
- A little plastic packaging can help prevent bruising.
- 1993
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring children playing football. The ad highlights how, from egg cartons to sports equipment, plastic can be used to keep people safe.
Beginning in 1993, the American…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Sporting goods, Plastics in packaging
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Plastics Make It Possible advertisement, 2001
- I want to share in her happiness.
- 2001
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring a child playing with her grandfather. The ad highlights how plastics used in hip replacements or hearing aids can enhance your life.
Beginning in 1993, the…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Plastics in medicine, Children in advertising
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Plastic Makes It Possible advertisement, 1994
- You Never Appreciate Some Plastic Until It's Broken.
- 1994
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring a bottle of cold medicine with a broken plastic seal. The ad argues that the durability of plastic packaging is essential to safety in sports gear,…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Plastics in packaging
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Plastics Make It Possible advertisement, 2003
- Took two bullets to the chest. Ruined a good shirt.
- 2003
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring a police officer and highlighting how plastic enhances and protects lives. It explains how plastics are used in safety equipment like bullet-resistant vests,…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Police, Body armor
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Take Another Look At Plastic advertisement, 1992
- Your New Carpeting May Already Be In Your Refrigerator
- 1992
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring a fridge filled with food in plastic packaging. The text praises plastic recycling and gives examples of products that are produced from plastic bottles.
…- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Plastics--Recycling, Polystyrene
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Plastics Make It Possible advertisement, 1995
- Would You Believe The Jug On The Right Is 45% Lighter?
- 1995
Advertisement by the American Plastics Council, featuring two gallons of milk. The ad boasts that plastic packaging is lightweight, shatter-resistant, and comes with a tamper-evident seal.
Beginning in 1993, the…
- Creator Of Work American Plastics Council
- Subject American Plastics Council, Plastics, Plastics in packaging, Plastics--Environmental aspects, Food--Packaging
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21M 10S
Dow Midland
- 1950s
Silent film showing life in and around the Dow Chemical plant in Midland, Michigan in the 1950s. Footage includes the interior and exterior of plant buildings, and the production of salt, petroleum, herbicide, plastic,…
- Producer Jam Handy Organization
- Creator Of Work Dow Chemical Company
- Subject Dow Chemical Company, Chemical industry, Chemical engineering, Plastics
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9M 26S
Test Tube Tale
- 1941
A short film about industrial chemistry or chemical engineering and how it is used in domestic applications, specifically coatings, finishes, and other treatments that enhance the durability of various materials.
- Producer Jam Handy
- Subject Chemical engineering, Rayon, Rubber, Corrosion and anti-corrosives
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4M 38S
Looking Ahead Through Plexiglas
- 1940
Promotional film for Plexiglas, a clear plastic manufactured by Rohm & Haas during World War II. This film focuses on using Plexiglas in the home for interior design and furniture.
- Creator Of Work Rohm and Haas Company
- Producer Jam Handy Organization
- Subject Plexiglas, Interior decoration, Furniture design, Plastics
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23M 58S
What's It To You?
- 1955
Promotional film for Mylar, a clear polyester film product invented and manufactured by DuPont, which presents its physical properties and potential uses.
- Creator Of Work E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Producer Jam Handy Organization
- Subject Polyethylene terephthalate, Plastics, Plastics industry and trade, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
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8M 26S
Plastic Age Anniversary!
- Industry on Parade
- 1950s
One of a series of short films on industrial processes, this one covers the plastics industry. Specifically, it illustrates how plastic products are made and their many applications in the domestic, military, and…
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10M 29S
Kingdom of Plastics
- An Excursion in Science
- 1945
A promotional short film about the creation and manufacture of plastics and the many ways plastics were used in daily domestic and military products in the 1940s United States.
- Creator Of Work General Electric Company
- Producer Jam Handy Organization
- Subject Plastics, Plastics industry and trade, World War (1939-1945)
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Oral history interview with Emmett D. Crawford
- 2011-Oct-06 – 2011-Oct-07
Emmett D. Crawford was born in Meridian, Mississippi, but grew up in Laurinburg, North Carolina. His father, a minister and director of admissions at St. Andrews Presbyterian College, and his mother, a teacher, divorced…
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2 items
Jar containing plastics from albatross stomachs
- 1990s
Clear plastic jar with ecru lid containing found plastic and rocks from albatross chick stomachs collected by Dr. Theodora Colborn on Midway Island in the mid 1990s.
- Creator Of Work Colborn, Theodora
- Subject Plastics, Albatrosses, Dioxins, DDT (Insecticide), Furans, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Organochlorine compounds
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3 items
Igloo Wrap cellophane
- 1900s
Blue and red cardboard box of "Igloo Wrap Brand" cellophane wrap, manufactured by Du Pont.
- Manufacturer E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
- Subject E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Food--Storage, Food--Preservation, Plastic films
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4 items
Box of See-Safe polyethylene plastic wrap
- 1950s
Box of See-Safe polyethylene plastic wrap. The box features the slogan "Beautiful to See . . . Safe as Can Be" and has illustrated directions.
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58M 50S
Once Upon a Christmas Cheery in the Lab of Shakhashiri
- 1997
One of many in a series of annual Christmas lectures given by Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, a Lebanese chemistry educator who spent most of his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The 1996 lecture includes the…
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52 items
Chemical Heritage, Volume 29 Number 3
- 2011 – 2012 (Fall/Winter)
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52 items
