Bakelite - Polymers

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

2
 Abstract
Bakelite is the first synthetic polymer that is made from the condensation reaction of
formaldehyde and phenol. When it is solidified it looks like yellowish-brown in appearance.
It is used in many chemical manufacturing firms with paper, graphite, wood, asbestos and
many other materials where high flame-retardant, high chemical resistance and high
insulation properties are required. The manufacturing of the bakelite can be taken out in a
single step or in a number of steps, every step gave a distinct bakelite which has distinct
properties. Normally, three steps of conversion are utilized to get the bakelite of required
characteristics. All these succeeding types are named as bakelite A, B, and C. The
formulation of these outcomes A and B, and final conversion into C for special targets,
comprise of bakelite manufacturing procedure. In the earlier of the twentieth century, bakelite
transformed the world completely. Bakelite marketed as the substance of the thousands
benefits. After the production of the Bakelite we entered in the era where artificial polymers
encircled us in almost every application from medicinal fixes to astronomical vehicles. Now,
we have totally reliant on these artificial substances. Bakelite is unsolvable, dense, infusible
and hard material. It is titled as Bakelite after the name of its creator Baekeland. In 2015, the
world bakelite market was esteemed at 10.66 billion and is expected to touch 15.01 billion in
2021, with a CAGR of 5.8% from 2016 to 2021. This durable polymer has been extensively
used in the manufacturing of kitchen devices, assisting parts, dinner sets, switches, jewellery,
wirelesses appliances, phones, radio and many additional objects because of its unique and
reliable properties.

3
 1. Introduction
In 1907-1909, an American Scientist Leo Baekeland invented a polymer based on phenol
formaldehyde resin known as bakelite. This was the first polymer created from the man-made
substances. Because of its nonconductive, non-flammable and high mechanical
characteristics it is used in the casing of the telephone, radio and electrical insulators as well
as in kitchenware, jewellery, pipeline halts, and kids' toys. In 1993, because of Bakelite’s
importance it was nominated as ACS National Historical Chemical Landmark [1]. Bakelite
AG, the German group of companies has the brand rights of bakelite in several states around
the globe. In 1920 to 1940, Bakelite got its peak of fame and usefulness in Europe and US.
Figure 1 represents the first launched synthetic product of bakelite known as the Bakelizer (a
steam pressure container) developed by Leo Baekeland.

Figure 1:The Bakelizer

This has been identified very earlier in the ninetieth century, that formaldehyde can respond
chemically to phenolic objects in numerous simple methods and developed products

4
extremely different from parent components in physical and chemical characteristics. From
these products some condensation reaction products have properties of being water soluble,
crystalline in nature and somehow amorphous similar to a resin. These resin like products are
known as Bakelite. Bakelite is inert in nature because it is almost unsolvable and infusible in
all solvents and has the potential of surviving the reaction of all chemicals. It looks like
yellowish-brown stiff elastic in some conditions. It has numerous significant characteristics.
Bakelite has very low manufacturing time because of its ability to be molded very fast.
Moulded parts of bakelite are heat resistant, scratch resistant, solvent resistant and remember
[7]:44–45[22][25]
their form. Bakelite is also a electric resistant material with non-flexible nature.
The main drawback of this material is the poor humidity or moisture resistance, under
extreme conditions it swells up..[26] When Bakelite burnt, it gave fishy odor.[27]
Usually, two methods are applied at industrial scale for the production of Bakelite. In first
one phenol reacts with the excess amount of formaldehyde in basic conditions and produce an
intermediate product in water solution known as resole. This resole has liquid form and cured
to get the final form of the Bakelite. For curing purpose resole is sandwiched between the two
layers of wood and then the assembly is heated under pressure to make the plywood. In the
second technique, the excess quantity of phenol is used with the formaldehyde in acidic
environment. The yield of this process is a solid polymer which is known as Novolac.
Novolac looks like the final product but it has very low molecular weight and thermoplastic
in nature. The curing procedure of these novolacs involved the grinding process with the
fillers like minerals, glass fibers, or wood flour and finally the heating of this mixture under
pressure in a mold. For the curing purpose of the novolacs resin, additional formaldehyde is
required. The final cured product is known as bakelite.
Bakelite has high electric and heat resistance, that’s why it is frequently used in forming the
electrical switches and machinery components of electrical structures. Bakelite,
a thermosetting plastic, has very high mechanical strength. It remembers its shape even after
extensive molding. Bakelite gums are also widely used in glues and binding agents. These
glues are further applicable in protecting equipments. Bakelite has the potential to be applied
in coating industry. It is also used in kitchen utensils. Moreover, it is used to make the grips
of many apparatus. What is more it is a most popular and imperative plastic which is used to
make many items. That’s why it has the slogan of “the substance of thousands benefits”.

5
 2. Preparation of Bakelite
Bakelite is the first synthetic polymer that is made from the condensation reaction of the
formaldehyde and phenol. The condensation reaction normally took place in acidic or basic
conditions, which yield para or ortho hydroxymethyl phenols and their by-products. The
reaction environment is acidic when the phenol is in excess from formaldehyde and the
nature of the product obtained from this reaction is acidic. On the other hand, the reaction
environment is basic when formaldehyde is in excess than phenol and the condensation
outcome is Resol. In numerous manufacturing industries these intermediate outcomes are
utilized as the resins. These intermediate products when cross-linked with the help of some
crosslinking agents its yield a solid product which is known as Bakelite. Generally, the excess
amount of phenol used as a cross-linking agent. The manufacturing process of bakelite
includes numerous stages, as shown in Figure 2. Early procedures of making bakelite
contained the heating of phenol and formaldehyde in the existence of these catalysts zinc
chloride (ZnCl2), ammonia (NH3) or hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Figure 2: Bakelite production process

6
As shown in figure formaldehyde and phenol are blended and then heated in the existence of
a basic catalyst. In next step water is removed from the solution and a viscous resin is
produced, that resin is additionally processed to attain the desired properties in the material.
The preliminary reaction in each case includes the development of a hydroxymethyl phenol
as shown in the following equation:
HOC6H5 + CH2O → HOC6H4CH2OH
The hydroxymethyl phenol reacts with the free para or ortho position, of other
hydroxymethyl group. On the completion of the reaction a methylene bridge and
an ether bridge is formed as shown in the following equations:
HOC6H4CH2OH + HOC6H5 → (HOC6H4)2CH2 + H2O
2 HOC6H4CH2OH → (HOC6H4CH2)2O + H2O
Different developed techniques for the preparation of the bakelite are described below:
A method of obtaining phenol-formaldehyde resin, which consists in metilirovanie phenol
with formaldehyde under alkaline conditions in the presence of calcium hydroxide and water
as a solvent, and the formaldehyde is injected in a ratio of from 2.8 to 4.5 mol per mol of
phenol and calcium hydroxide is present in a ratio of 3-5,5 weight percent of calcium in
relation to phenol A disadvantage of the known technical solution is relatively narrow scope,
which does not allow to produce bakelite resin in organic solvents.
There is also known a method based on the condensation reaction of formaldehyde with
phenol in the existence of hydroxides of divalent metals, and the condensation process is
carried at a molar ratio of formaldehyde to phenol, 1.5-1.8 to formaldehyde in the reaction
mixture 4-7 weight percent, and then add the next portion f is Malina in such numbers, to the
total molar ratio was 2.1 to 2.5. A disadvantage of the known technical solutions are
relatively low physico-chemical properties in relation to such factors as adhesion to glass.
The closest in essence is a method of obtaining a bakelite varnish, based on receiving a
phenol-formaldehyde resin by condensation reaction of formaldehyde with phenol in the
existence of a reagent, maintaining the temperature of the mixture in the condensation
process, equal 70-76°C, before reaching its viscosity is not less than 20 MPa·with, at the end
of the condensation carry out the drying of the resin and the subsequent dissolution of the
resin in an organic solvent is ethyl alcohol. The disadvantage is the closest technical solution
is relatively low physico-chemical properties in relation to such factors as adhesion to
fiberglass. It is not possible to use it as binder components in the manufacture of, for
example, the pressing of the material used as a filler cut glass fibers for further manufacture
direct or injection moulding of products for structural and electrical purposes.

7
 3. Additives and Chemical Structure
Bakelite is a synthetic polymer, produced from the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde in
the acidic or basic environments has the monomer (C6H6O·CH2O)n. Chemical name of the
bakelite is “polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride”. The phenolic resins polarizability is
1024cm3. It has the enthalpy of vaporization 43.52 kJ/mol. Bakelite has 1 donor H bond and 1
acceptor H bond. The polar surface area of the bakelite is 9.23 Å 2. Bakelite boiling point and
flash point are 181.8℃ and 72.5℃ respectively. Its vapor pressure is 0.614 mmHg. It has
yellowish brown color. The variation in the color depends upon the filler and nature of the
resin. Bakelite has smooth and shiny surface. It is a stiff and rigid solid with high dimensional
strength. Bakelite seems brittle and has low impact strength where it has thin segments. The
molecular and chemical structure of the bakelite is revealed in Figure 3. The three
dimensional model of the bakelite structure is exposed in Figure 4. Hydrogen depleted
molecular graph of Bakelite network is represented in Figure 5.

Figure 3: The molecular and chemical structure of the bakelite

8
Figure 4: 3-D model of cross-linked chemical structure of Bakelite

Figure 5: Hydrogen depleted molecular graph of Bakelite network

9
 4. Different Types, Shapes and Colors of Bakelite
Bakelite can be classified on the basis of manufacturing techniques in two types. One is the
molded bakelite and the other is the phenolic sheets. On the other hand while polymerization
three types of bakelite are obtained that are known as type A, B and C. The short description
of all types of the bakelite is described below:
4.1 Molded Bakelite
Molded bakelite is manufactured from the reaction of formaldehyde and phenol with some
additives like wood flour or a filler. The resulting material is cured in a heating mold with
high pressure. And the final rigid, hard form of the bakelite is obtained in the desired shape.
The molding process has many advantages over the conventional manufacturing techniques.
Bakelite resin can be used as a powder, or it can also be used as a semi cured prepolymer,
that increased the speed of the molding process. During the molding procedure bakelite
needed the heat and pressure and cooling of the final product. Here the advantage of this
process is in removing the part without cooling, and that technique could be applied in the
molding process of bakelite. Moreover the molded product has smooth surface, that’s why
there is barely need of the further polishing of the final product. At a time we can produce
many parts using molding technique making the process quicker and cheap.
Bakelite obtained from the moulding process has plain surface and can be prepared in desire
colors very easily by pre blending of the desired colors. Normally, it is made in black, red and
brown color with the effect of mottled. It is also made in glossy colors like amber, turquoise,
green, ruby red and tortoise shell. These colors are without any filler have very attractive
look.
Different color shades of molded Bakelite are represented in Figure 6, we can see that these
colors are very attractive and have different patterns. Each unique color has a range of
undertone. From these we can select the color of desire shade for the final use in bakelite
resin.
The genuine Bakelite has beautiful amber shade, and this can be changed into any color of
desired shade. The main drawback of this technique is that the bakelite resin is brittle in
nature and filler are used for reinforced the resin. Due to the filler contents in the molded
bakelite these colors are look cloudy, unclear, dusty and dull. In the end, the other polymers
that has desired characteristics with the bright colors are substituting the Bakelite. However,
molded bakelite is still used in different shades of colors at industrial scale, because of its
unique properties from the other polymers.

10
Figure 6: Different colors of molded Bakelite

11
4.2 Phenolic sheets
Phenolic sheet is the other type of bakelite resin that has been marketed at the time of the
invention of this polymer. These sheets are rigid and thick, manufactured through utilizing
the high temperature and pressure to the films of paper or fabric soaked with the man-made
resin. The material that is used for the lamination purpose in manufacturing the phenolic
sheets may be Paper, glass fabrics, unwoven fabrics, synthetic fabrics, and cotton fabrics.
These lamination layers are transformed to the thermosetting plastic laminates by
polymerization process under the pressure and high temperature. These bakelite phenolic
sheets are produced in several marketable grades with the help of different additive in order
to meet the specific electrical, mechanical and thermal properties of the end user. Some most
common types of phenolic sheets are: [24]
Paper reinforced NEMA XX per MIL-I-24768 PBG: It has normal mechanical strength and
operational temperature of 120℃. Usually, it is used in electrical appliances.
Canvas reinforced NEMA C per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBM NEMA CE per MIL-I-24768
TYPE FBG: It has high impact strength and operational temperature of 120℃.
Linen reinforced NEMA L per MIL-I-24768 TYPE FBI NEMA LE per MIL-I-24768 TYPE
FEI. It has high mechanical and electrical strength and operational temperature of 120℃. It is
used for the complex parts which have high strength.
Nylon reinforced NEMA N-1 per MIL-I-24768 TYPE NPG. It has excellent electrical and
moisture resistance properties and operational temperature of 70℃. It has the unique
property of fungus resistance.
4.3 Types of Bakelite during the Reaction of the Phenol and Formaldehyde
While polymerization, three types of bakelite are obtained that are known as type A, B and C.
The short description of all these types is given below:
4.3.1 Bakelite A
Bakelite A is prepared by adding to about equal amounts of phenol and formaldehyde a small
quantity of an alkaline condensing agent and gently heating. The mixture separates into two
layers, the upper, a supernatant aqueous solution; the lower, a layer of heavy liquid which is
bakelite A. There may be thus obtained, at will, either a thin liquid called thin A or a more
viscous mass, viscous A or a pasty A or even, if the reaction be carried far enough, a solid A.
At ordinary temperature, A may be liquid or viscous or pasty or solid. It is soluble in alcohol,
acetone, phenol, glycerine and similar solvents. It is also soluble in NaOH. Solid A is very

12
brittle and melts if heated. All varieties of A heated long enough under suitable conditions,
will change first to B and finally into C.
4.3.2 Bakelite B
B is sold at all temperatures, brittle and somewhat harder than A at ordinary temperatures. It
is insoluble in all solvents but may swell in acetone or phenol without entering into complete
solution. If heated it does not melt butt softens decidedly and becomes elastic and somewhat
rubber- like and on cooling becomes again hard and brittle. Further heating under suitable
conditions changes it into C. Although infusible, B can be molded under pressure in a hot
mould to a homogenous coherent mass which can be further changed to C by the proper
application of heat.
4.3.3 Bakelite C
C is infusible in all solvents, un attacked by acetone, indifferent to ordinary acids or to
alkaline solutions and yields only to the action of boiling concentrated sulphuric acid and to
nitric acid. It does not seriously soften if heated and the temperature may with safety be
raised to 300 ° C. At much higher temperature it chars without entering into fusion. Bakelite
C is an excellent insulator both of heat and electricity and has a specific gravity of about 1.25.
It is very hard and cannot be scratched with the finger nail, in which respect it is far superior
to shellac or even to hard rubber and celluloid but lacks the great elasticity and flexibility of
hard rubber and celluloid, and this is its most serious drawback.

5. Mechanisms
“Bakelite “is a hard, insoluble condensation resin polymer and can be easily made by heating
together phenols and formaldehyde, in the presence of acid or base with the elimination of
water. Basically, the reaction takes place in two stages (Figure 5). The repeat of the pervious
reactions will generate a three-dimensional structure containing weakly acidic phenolic–OH
or OR groups (Figure 6).

13
14
 6. Market and Market Value
The global phenolic resin market was valued at 10.66 billion in 2015 and is projected to reach
15.01 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2016 to 2021. Phenolic resins are the oldest
synthetic polymers obtained by the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde. They possess
properties such as high mechanical strength, low toxicity, and excellent heat resistance. The
various applications of phenolic resins are wood adhesives, foundry, molding, and laminates
among others.
On the basis of type, namely, resol resin, novolac resin, and others. Resol resin is expected to
lead the global phenolic resin market during the forecast period, followed by novolac resin.
Resol resin leads the market due to its growing use in the wood adhesives application. The
market for resol resin is also expected to witness the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2021. The
main features of resol resin are superior heat resistance, good flexibility, high mechanical
strength, good moldability, and excellent friction properties.
The global phenolic resin market is classified on the basis of application, namely, wood
adhesives, molding, laminates, foundry, insulation, and others. The wood adhesives
application is the largest, due to the rapidly growing construction industry, which in turn is
driving the consumption of wood adhesives. The molding application is also expected to
grow at the highest CAGR during forecast period.

15
The global phenolic resin market is segmented on the basis of region, namely, Asia-Pacific,
Europe, North America, Middle East & Africa, and South America. Currently, the Asia-
Pacific region is the largest market for phenolic resin. Rapid industrialization and improved
living standards is expected to drive the increasing demand for phenolic resin.  Middle East &
Africa is projected to be the second-fastest growing market from 2016 to 2021. This growth
is attributed to the rapidly growing automotive and building & construction industries in the
region.

16
The future of the Global Phenol Formaldehyde Resin market looks good with opportunities in
the Refractories, Frictional Materials, Bonding Agents industries.

Following are the key players of phenol formaldehyde resins:

Momentive
Georgia-Pacific Chemicals
SI Group
Prefere Resins
Sumitomo Bakelite
DIC
BASF
Mitsui Chemicals
Huttenes-Albertus
KOLON Chemical
Fenolit d.d.
AOC
Hitachi Chemical
UCP Chemicals

17
Panasonic
DPCL Dujodwala Paper Chemicals
Xpro India
SQ GROUP
Chang Chun Corporation
Henan Bond Chemical
Shandong Runda
Zhengzhou Shuangge
Changshu South-East Plastic

7. Applications, Developed Technologies and Products of Bakelite

The characteristics of Bakelite made it particularly suitable as a molding compound, an
adhesive or binding agent, a varnish, and a protective coating. Bakelite was particularly
suitable for the emerging electrical and automobile industries because of its extraordinarily
high resistance to electricity, heat, and chemical action.[7]:44–45
The earliest commercial use of Bakelite in the electrical industry was the molding of tiny
insulating bushings, made in 1908 for the Weston Electrical Instrument Corporation by
Richard W. Seabury of the Boonton Rubber Company.[7]:43[28] Bakelite was soon used for
non-conducting parts of telephones, radios and other electrical devices, including bases and
sockets for light bulbs and electron tubes (vacuum tubes), supports for any type of electrical
components, automobile distributor caps and other insulators.[7][29] By 1912, it was being
used to make billiard balls, since its elasticity and the sound it made were similar to ivory.
[30][31]
During World War I, Bakelite was used widely, particularly in electrical systems. Important
projects included the Liberty Motor,[32] the wireless telephone and radio phone,[33] and the
use of micarta-bakelite propellors in the NBS-1 bomber and the DH-4B aeroplane.[34][35]

18
Ericsson Bakelite telephone, c. 1931

Bakelite radio at Bakelite museum

Bakelite's availability and ease and speed of molding helped to lower the costs and increase
product availability so that telephones and radios became common household consumer
goods.[7]:116–117[36][37] It was also very important to the developing automobile industry.
[38] It was soon found in myriad other consumer products ranging from pipe stems and
buttons to saxophone mouthpieces, cameras, early machine guns, and appliance casings.
Bakelite was also very commonly used in making molded grip panels (stocks) on handguns,
submachine guns and machineguns, as well as numerous knife handles and "scales" through
the first half of the 20th century.[39]

Bakelite Buttons
Beginning in the 1920s, it became a popular material for jewelry.[40] Designer Coco Chanel
included Bakelite bracelets in her costume jewelry collections.[41] :27–29 Designers such as
Elsa Schiaparelli used it for jewelry and also for specially designed dress buttons.[42][43]
Later, Diana Vreeland, editor of Vogue, was enthusiastic about Bakelite.[44] Bakelite was
also used to make presentation boxes for Breitling watches. Jewelry designers such as Jorge
Caicedo Montes De Oca still use vintage Bakelite materials to make designer jewelry.[45]
Bakelite jewelry, made from a phenolic resin, has several distinct characteristics that make it
easier to identify from other plastic jewelry. Tap two pieces of Bakelite jewelry together and

19
they make a deep clunking sound, unlike other plastic jewelry that makes a higher pitched,
dull sound.

Bakelite Bracelets sell for $20-$100 depending on condition.

20
By 1930, designer Paul T. Frankl considered Bakelite a "Materia Nova", "expressive of our
own age".[7]:107 By the 1930s, Bakelite was used for game pieces like chessmen, poker
chips,[46] dominoes[47] and mahjong sets.[48][49] Kitchenware made with Bakelite,
including canisters and tableware, was promoted for its resistance to heat and to chipping.
[50][51] In the mid-1930s, Northland marketed a line of skis with a black "Ebonite" base, a
coating of Bakelite.[52][53] By 1935, it was used in solid-body electric guitars. Performers
such as Jerry Byrd loved the tone of Bakelite guitars but found them difficult to keep in tune.
[54]

Bakelite letter opener c. 1920

The British children's construction toy Bayko, launched in 1933, originally used Bakelite for
many of its parts, and took its name from the material.
During World War II, Bakelite was used in a variety of wartime equipment including pilot's
goggles and field telephones.[55] It was also used for patriotic wartime jewellery.[56][57] In
1943, the thermosetting phenolic resin was even considered for the manufacture of coins, due
to a shortage of traditional material. Bakelite and other non-metal materials were tested for
usage for the one cent coin in the US before the Mint settled on zinc-coated steel.[58][59]
During World War II, Bakelite buttons were part of the British uniforms. They were
sometimes modified to Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape purposes in case of capture.
Following the introduction of BD (Battle Dress). MI9 was forced to adapt to meet the
challenge of a number of different compass solutions were devised, both covert and overt.
These included Bakelite buttons used in both Army (brown colored) and RAF (black) BD
uniforms."[60]
In 1947, Dutch art forger Han van Meegeren was convicted of forgery, after chemist and
curator Paul B. Coremans proved that a purported Vermeer contained Bakelite, which van
Meegeren had used as a paint hardener.[61]

21
Bakelite was sometimes used as a substitute for metal in the magazine, pistol grip, fore grip,
hand guard, and butt stock of firearms. The AKM and some early AK-74 rifles are frequently
mistakenly identified as using Bakelite, but most were made with AG-S4.[62]
By the late 1940s, newer materials were superseding Bakelite in many areas.[38] Phenolics
are less frequently used in general consumer products today due to their cost and complexity
of production and their brittle nature. They still appear in some applications where their
specific properties are required, such as small precision-shaped components, molded disc
brake cylinders, saucepan handles, electrical plugs, switches and parts for electrical irons,[63]
as well as in the area of inexpensive board and table top games produced in China, Hong
Kong and India.[63] Items such as billiard balls, dominoes and pieces for board games such
as chess, checkers, and backgammon are constructed of Bakelite for its look, durability, fine
polish, weight, and sound. Common dice are sometimes made of Bakelite for weight and
sound, but the majority are made of a thermoplastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS). Bakelite continues to be used for wire insulation, brake pads and related
automotive components, and industrial electrical-related applications. Bakelite stock is still
manufactured and produced in sheet, rod and tube form for industrial applications in the
electronics, power generation and aerospace industries, and under a variety of commercial
brand names.[38]
Phenolic resins have been commonly used in ablative heat shields.[64] Soviet heatshields for
ICBM warheads and spacecraft reentry consisted of asbestos textolite, impregnated with
Bakelite.[65] Bakelite is also used in the mounting of metal samples in metallography.[66]

8. Risk Assessment, Toxic and Environmental

Plastics constitute a large material group with a global annual production that has doubled in
15 years (245 million tonnes in 2008). Plastics are present everywhere in society and the
environment, especially the marine environment, where large amounts of plastic waste
accumulate. The knowledge of human and environmental hazards and risks from chemicals
associated with the diversity of plastic products is very limited. Most chemicals used for
producing plastic polymers are derived from non-renewable crude oil, and several are
hazardous. These may be released during the production, use and disposal of the plastic
product. Bakelite material has been used to produce the various components for cars and cons
umer goods. The growth of Bakelite consumption increases Bakelite waste. Bakelite waste is 
prohibited from disposing of direct landfilling and open burning because of the improper disp

22
osal and emission reasons. A large amount of this waste needs the large safe space of wareho
use area for keeping which becomes a waste management problem.
Information on toxicological effects
Signs and Symptoms of Exposure:
Based on test data and/or information on the components, this material may produce the
following
health effects:
Inhalation:
Respiratory Tract Irritation: Signs/symptoms may include cough, sneezing, nasal discharge,
headache, hoarseness, and nose and throat pain. Dust from grinding, sanding or machining
may cause irritation of the respiratory system. Signs/symptoms may include cough, sneezing,
nasal discharge, headache, hoarseness, and nose and throat pain.
Skin Contact:
Mild Skin Irritation: Signs/symptoms may include localized redness, swelling, itching, and
dryness. Allergic Skin Reaction (non-photo induced): Signs/symptoms may include redness,
swelling, blistering, and itching.
Eye Contact:
Moderate Eye Irritation: Signs/symptoms may include redness, swelling, pain, tearing, and
blurred or hazy vision. Dust created by grinding, sanding, or machining may cause eye
irritation. Signs/symptoms may include redness, swelling, pain, tearing, and blurred or hazy
vision.
Ingestion:
No know health effects.
Toxicological Data:

23
24
Conclusions and Summary
Invented in 1907 in Yonkers, New York, phenol formaldehyde was the first thermosetting
polymer, that is, a polymer that once it has set can’t be remelted. The polymer was called
Bakelite, or more properly Bakelite after its inventor the American chemist Leo Henricus
Arthur Baekeland (1863–1944). One of its first uses may have been for the knob on a gear
lever in a Rolls Royce automobile. Bakelite provided the long-sought solution to replace
ivory for billiard balls and is now also used for bowling balls. Bakelite is heat-resistant,
shatterproof and impervious to damage from dryness or humidity. Because of these qualities
Bakelite was used during World War II for bomb casings and other weaponry as well as a
substitute for steel in some war machinery. The key ingredient in Bakelite is phenol-
formaldehyde resin, sometimes referred to as Phenolic. When Baekeland developed the liquid
resin that would come to be known as Bakelite, he was trying to create a new type of shellac.
He fashioned a device that enabled him to vary heat and pressure of the chemical mixture he
was working with. Bakelite is not extensively used for general consumer products any more,
due to the cost and complexity of production and its brittle nature. However, it was used in
the past in a myriad application, 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. When caring for pieces, collectors should remember that Bakelite is sensitive to
sunlight. Excessive and continued exposure to heat and light will cause it to discolour, fade,
or crumble. You can best care for your Bakelite pieces with metal polishes like Noxon, car
polishes like Turtle Wax, or chrome polish like Simichrome. Plastic polishes work least well.
Always wash Bakelite items by hand instead of using the dishwasher.

25
References

26