Final answer:
Leo Baekeland used laminated, bent wood to investigate its plasticity by developing Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic made from phenol formaldehyde resin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The person who used laminated, bent wood to investigate its plasticity is the Belgian-American chemist Leo Baekeland. In 1907, Baekeland developed Bakelite, the first plastic made from synthetic components, which is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin. Bakelite was used in a variety of products, including kitchenware, jewelry, pipe stems, and firearms, due to its electrical nonconductivity and heat-resistant properties.