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Bakelite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bakelite (pronounced /ˈbеɪkɨlaɪt/) is a material based on the thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin,
polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride developed in 1907–1909 by Belgian Dr. Leo Baekeland. Formed
by the reaction under heat and pressure of phenol (a toxic, colourless crystalline solid) and formaldehyde
(a simple organic compound), generally with a wood flour filler, it was the first plastic made from
synthetic components. It was used for its electrically nonconductive and heat-resistant properties in radio
and telephone casings and electrical insulators, and was also used in such diverse products as kitchenware,
jewelry, pipe stems, and children's toys. In 1993 Bakelite was designated an ACS National Historical
Chemical Landmark in recognition of its significance as the world's first synthetic plastic.[1]

The retro appeal of old Bakelite products and labor intensive manufacturing has made them quite collectible
in recent years.

Bakelite AG (a German company) claims to own the trademark in the following countries: Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benelux, China, Cuba, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece,
India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand,
Norway, Pakistan, Switzerland, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand,
Czech Republic, Tunisia, Hungary.[2]

Contents
1 History
2 Properties
3 Patents
4 Applications and usage
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

History

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Bakelite Corp. was formed in 1922 from the

consolidation of three companies. General Bakelite
Co., Condensite Corp. and Redmanol Chemical
Products Company, an early plastics manufacturer
formed in 1913 by Chemist L.H.Baekeland. The
American Catalin Corporation acquired the Bakelite
formulas in 1927 and currently manufactures Bakelite
cast resins.

Bakelite Limited was formed in 1926 from the

amalgamation of three suppliers of phenol
formaldehyde materials: the Damard Lacquer
Company Limited of Birmingham; Mouldensite
Limited of Darley Dale and Redmanol Chemical
Products Company of London. Around 1928 a new
factory opened in Tyseley, Birmingham, England.
(The building was demolished in 1998.) The Structure of Bakelite
company was acquired by the Union Carbide and
Carbon Corporation in 1939.

Properties
Phenolics are seldom 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 moulded disc brake cylinders, saucepan
handles, electrical plugs and switches and electrical iron parts. Today, Bakelite is manufactured and
produced in the form of sheets, rods and tubes for hundreds of industrial applications in the electronics,
power generation and aerospace industries, and under a variety of commercial brand names.

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. When rubbed, original
Bakelite has a telltale odor.

Bakelite Phenolic is produced in dozens of commercial grades and

with various additives to meet diverse mechanical, electrical and
thermal requirements. Some common types include:

PAPER REINFORCED PHENOLIC NEMA XX per

MIL-I-24768 PBG Normal electrical applications, moderate
mechanical strength, continuous operating temperature of Bakelite distributor rotor
250°F.

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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 continuous 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 and 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
U.S. Patent 0,942,809 (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=0942809)
—Condensation product and method of making same

(After following the patent link, click on the "Images" button to view the patent. You will need a TIFF
(.tif) viewer to view the patent.)

Applications and usage

Although not extensively used as an industrial manufacturing material
any more, in the past Bakelite was used in a myriad of applications,
such as saxophone mouthpieces, cameras, solid-body electric guitars,
rotary-dial telephones, early machine guns, and appliance casings. It
was at one point considered for the manufacture of coins, due to a
shortage of traditional manufacturing material.`

See also
Ansco panda — children's Bakelite box camera
Bayko — A construction set toy in which most of the parts
were made of Bakelite
Catalin
Novotext
Phenol formaldehyde resin
Phenolic resin Bakelite radio at Bakelite museum

References
1. ^ New Products (http://acswebcontent.acs.org/landmarks/newproducts_t.html#bakelite)
2. ^ "Our reference - Protection of brands (http://www.bakelite.de/eng/DF_04.htm) ". Bakelite AG
(June 18, 2007).

External links
Bakelite: JJ Zimmermann's Virtual Bakelite Museum (http://www.bakelit.ch/index_eng.html) in

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Basel, Switzerland: one of the world's largest private collections can be visited in a special exhibition
http://www.15squaredevergennes.com in Paris until August 2, 2008
Bakelite: The Material of a Thousand Uses (http://www.bakelitemuseum.de)
Virtual Bakelite Museum of Ghent 1907-2007 (http://juliensart.be/bakeliet)

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Categories: Companies based in Birmingham, England | Dielectrics | Phenolic resins | Thermosetting
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