Casein
Casein is not a new material. Discovered in the late 19th century, it was found that the curds of separated milk could be dried and hardened into a solid mass. It was soon found that with the addition of pigments and other additives to the wet curd, materials resembling then routinely harvested animal shell, tusk, horn, hoof, claw or bone in appearance, feel and behaviour could be made. Much development went on through the early 20th century finding different ways to process the material into solid articles of high value and utility, however, manufacturing anything with Casein is a long and difficult process due to the slow drying characteristics of the material and its tendency to greatly shrink and warp while this drying takes place.
The 1940s saw the discovery of many low cost petrochemical based plastics, these became a far simpler and more popular solution for manufacturers of plastics articles. The new materials were much easier to process than Casein reducing production time from weeks to minutes or less, a greater number of colours were available and materials as clear as glass were now possible. Some manufacturers of very high value goods continued to work with Casein for a few more decades but to my knowledge very few if any remain. The new materials of the 40s became the range of materials we universally call “plastics” today.
The 1940s saw the discovery of many low cost petrochemical based plastics, these became a far simpler and more popular solution for manufacturers of plastics articles. The new materials were much easier to process than Casein reducing production time from weeks to minutes or less, a greater number of colours were available and materials as clear as glass were now possible. Some manufacturers of very high value goods continued to work with Casein for a few more decades but to my knowledge very few if any remain. The new materials of the 40s became the range of materials we universally call “plastics” today.