Preparation of Bakelite

PRAJVAL BHORDE
XII-D, Academic Year: 2023-24

Roll No. 30
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my deep gratitude and sincere thanks to my

Respected Principal Ma’am, Mrs. Amita Dutta of New Horizon
Public School, New Panvel for her encouragement and for all the
facilities that she provided for this project work on ‘Preparation Of
Bakelite’ which also encouraged me to do a lot of research work and
learn about new things.

I extend my hearty thanks to my subject teacher Mrs. Smitha

Rajesh ma’am. I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of
gratitude for her invaluable guidance, useful suggestions and
constant encouragement, which has sustained my efforts at all
stages of this project work.

I can’t forget to offer my sincere thanks to my parents and friends

who helped me to carry out this project work and thank them for
their valuable advice and support, which I received from time to
time.
 C E R T IFICA T E

This is to certify that Mr. Prajval Bhorde of class XII A has

successfully completed the Chemistry Investigatory Project on
‘Preparation Of Bakelite’ under the guidance of Mrs. Smitha
Rajesh as prescribed by the CBSE for academic session 2023- 2024.

Signature of Signature of Signature of

Subject Teacher Principal External Examiner

School Stamp
 INDEX

S r. N O Topic

1. Aim of the project

2. Introduction

3. Materials Required

4. Procedure for Preparation

5. Experimental Images

6. Conclusion

7. Bibliography
 AIM OF THE PROJECT

Preparation of Bakelite:-
 INTRODUCTION

Bakelite formally Polyoxybenzylmethyleneglycolanhydride

is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from
a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. The
first plastic made from synthetic components, it was
developed by Leo Baekeland in Yonkers New York in 1907,
and patented on December 7, 1909.

Because of its electrical nonconductivity and heat-resistant

properties, it became a great commercial success. It was
used in electrical insulators, radio and telephone casings,
and such diverse products as kitchenware, jewelry, pipe
stems, children's toys, and firearms. The "retro" appeal of
old Bakelite products has made them collectible.

The creation of a synthetic plastic was revolutionary for the

chemical industry, which at the time made most of its
income from cloth dyes and explosives. Bakelite's
commercial success inspired the industry to develop other
synthetic plastics. As the world's first commercial synthetic
plastic, Bakelite was named a National Historic Chemical
Landmark by the American Chemical Society.
 MANUFACTURE

1.Mixing of the Reactants:

The phenol and formaldehyde are sent separately to a kettle
which serves as a reactor and mixing of reactants take place
here.

Reactor:
The phenol and formaldehyde are placed in the reaction kettle
with the catalyst i.e. Sulfuric acid and heated.

Temperature.
Temperature inside the reactor is 285-325 oF.
2.Residence time:
Mean residence time of reactants inside the reactor vessel is 3-4
hours.

Chemical reaction:
During the condensation reaction water is eliminated and forms the
upper of two layers.

3.Removal of water:
The water of reaction is removed under vacuum without the
addition of heat.

4.Product collection:
The warm, dehydrated, viscous resin is run out of the kettle into
shallow trays & allowed to cool & harden.
The cooled, brittle resin is crushed, finely ground, and becomes
the resin binder for molding phenolic resins.
Properties of required chemicals:
1. Glacial Acetic acid:

Harmful:
Dilute acetic acid, in the form of vinegar, is harmless.
However, ingestion of stronger solutions is
dangerous to human and animal life. It can cause
severe damage to the digestive system.

Flammable:
Concentrated acetic acid can be ignited with
difficulty in the laboratory. It becomes a flammable
risk if the ambient temperature exceeds 39 °C (102
°F), and can form explosive mixtures with air above
this temperature (explosive limits: 5.4–16%).

Corrosive:
Concentrated acetic acid is corrosive and must be
handled with appropriate care, since it can cause skin
burns, permanent eye damage, and irritation to the
mucous membranes. These burns or blisters may not
appear until hours after exposure.
 Structure

Molecular formula CH3COOH

Molar mass 60.05 g mol-1

Appearance Colorless liquid

1.049 g/cm3 (l)

Density 1.266 g/cm3 (s)
Melting point 16.5 °C, 290 K, 62 °F
Boiling point 118.1 °C, 391 K, 245 °F
Solubility in water Fully miscible
Acidity (Pka) 4.76 at 25oC
Viscosity 1.22 mPa.S at 25oC
Flash point 43 °C

2. Formaldehyde Solution (37%):

Carcinogenic:
Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic chemical. While
handling it, care should be taken otherwise it can
cause serious damage to humane life.

Toxic:
It is a toxic compound. Serious damage can be
there if swallowed or inhaled for a sufficiently long
time.
Properties of Formaldehyde solution:
IUPAC name Methanal
Formol, methyl aldehyde, methylene oxide,
Other names methanal, methylene glycol

Structure

Molecular formula CH2O

Molar mass 30.03 g/gmol

Colorless gas
In lab 37%
Appearance liquid
solution of
formaldehyde
was used.

Density 1.38 g/ml

Melting point -15oC (37% solution)
Boiling point 96 oC (37% solution)
Solubility in water Very high
Explosive limits 7-73%
Auto-ignition temperature 430 oC

3. Phenol:
Corrosive:
Phenol is a corrosive substance. It is a slightly
acidic compound. Care should be taken while
handling phenol because it can damage to skin and
clothing.
 Toxic:
Phenol and its vapors are corrosive to the eyes, the
skin, and the respiratory tract. Inhalation of phenol
vapor may cause lung problems. The substance may
cause harmful effects on the central nervous
system and heart. The kidneys may be affected.

Properties of Phenol:
IUPAC name Hydroxybenzene
Carbolic Acid, Benzenol, Phenylic Acid,
Other names Hydroxybenzene, Phenic acid, Phenyl
alcohol

Structure

Molecular formula C6H6O

Molar mass 94.11 gmol-1

Appearance

Density 1.07 g cm3

Melting point 314 k
Boiling point 455 k
Solubility in water 8.3 g/100 ml (20 oC)
Acidity (Pka) 9.95
Flash point 79 oC
 MATERIALS REQUIRED

Apparatus required:

1. Beaker 2. Burner

3. Stirrer 4. Conical flask

5. Funnel 6. Water bath

7. Filter paper

Chemicals required:

1. Glacial Acetic Acid

2. 40% Formaldehyde Solution

3. Phenol
Procedure For Preparation
1) Take 25ml of glacial acetic acid in a beaker. Add 12.5 ml
of 40% formaldehyde solution in the beaker.

2) Now add 10g phenol into above solution after some

heating.

3) Finally add 12-15ml HCl into solution.

4) Start heating solution in H2O Bath such that the water in the
bath doesn’t start boiling.

5) Keep on heating the solution unless there is a solid mass

formed in the beaker with small amount of H2O present.

6) Now filter this mixture with the help of funnel & filter
paper, The solid sticking mass is Bakelite.

Chemical reaction:
 Precautions:
a) The face of the beaker should not be towards the
face of the worker during heating.
a) HCl shouldn’t be poured into reaction mixture very
slowly
b) The contact of Phenol with skin should be avoided.

Uses of Bakelite:
Uses of Bakelite are following.
Substitute:
Bakelite is used as a substitute of Porcelain & other opaque
Ceramic materials.
Board/Table Top:
It is used in the area of board & table top games e.g.
Billiard balls, Dominoes etc.
Mounting:
It is used in mounting of Metal samples.
It is used in whistles, cameras, solid body & Electric guitars.
Bakelite is very suitable for emerging Electrical &
automobile industries because of its extra ordinary
resistance but also due to its thermal resistance.
It has been widely used in jewellery products.