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Bakelite is a brand named material based on the thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, developed in 1907–1909 by Dr. Leo Baekeland. Formed by the reaction under heat and pressure of phenol and formaldehyde, generally with a wood flour filler, it was the first plastic made from synthetic polymers. It was used for its nonconductive and heat-resistant properties in radio and telephone casings and electrical insulators, and was also used in diverse products such as kitchenware, jewelry, pipe stems, and toys. The retro appeal of old Bakelite products has made them quite collectible in recent years: A quick search of, for example, eBay turns up hundreds of listings for all things Bakelite, ranging from radios to poker chips to telephones.
History
Bakelite Corp. was formed in 1922 from General Bakelite Co., Condensite Corp. and Redmanol Co.
Bakelite Limited was formed in 1927 from the amalgamation of three suppliers of phenol formaldehyde materials: the Damard Lacquer Company Limited of Birmingham; Mouldensite Limited of Darley Dale and Redmanol Limited of London. Around 1928, a new factory opened in Tyseley, Birmingham in September 1931 (it was demolished in 1998). The company was acquired by Union Carbide and Carbon Corp. in 1938.
Phenolics
Phenolics are little used in general consumer products today due to the cost and complexity of production and their brittle nature. An exception to the overall decline is the use in small precision-shaped components where their specific properties are required, such as molded disc brake cylinders, saucepan handles, electrical plugs and switches, and electrical iron parts. Today, Bakelite is manufactured under various commercial brand names such as Micarta. Micarta is produced in sheets, rods and tubes for hundreds of industrial applications in the electronics, power generation and aerospace industries.
Phenolic sheet is a hard, dense material made by applying heat and pressure to layers of paper or glass cloth impregnated with synthetic resin. These layers of laminations are usually of cellulose paper, cotton fabrics, synthetic yarn fabrics, glass fabrics or unwoven fabrics. When heat and pressure are applied to the layers, a chemical reaction (polymerization) transforms the layers into a high-pressure thermosetting industrial laminated plastic.
Bakelite Phenolic is produced in dozens of commercial grades to meet mechanical, electrical and thermal requirements.
PAPER REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA XX per MIL-I-24768 PBG Normal electrical applications, moderate mechanical strength, continuous operating temperature of 250°F.
CANVAS REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA C per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBM NEMA CE per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBG Good mechanical and impact strength with contiunuous operating temperature of 250°F.
LINEN REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA L per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBI NEMA LE per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FEI Good mechanical & electrical strength. Recommended for intricate high strength parts. Continuous operating temperature 250°F.
NYLON REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA N-1 per MIL-I-24768 TYPE NPG Superior electrical properties under humid conditions, fungus resistant, continuous operating temperature of 160°F.
Patents
- -- Condensation product and method of making same
Trivia
- Bakelite is referred to and used several times in the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.
- Holton (Leblanc) once used Bakelite in the manufacture of saxophone mouthpieces.
- Eastman Kodak used Bakelite when making the Brownie 127.
- Due to Bakelite's hardness and durability, it was considered as a material for making pennies in the United States during World War II because copper was needed for shell casings. Several patterns were made in 1942, but steel was used instead in 1943 and recycled shell casings in 1944 and 1945.
- Bakelite was used for the first solid body electric guitar, the Rickenbacker "frying pan" lap steel guitar.
See also
- Bayko (A construction set toy in which most of the parts were made of Bakelite)
- phenol formaldehyde resin
External links
Plastics | Companies from Birmingham, England | Dielectrics | Phenolic resins
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"Bakelite"