Bakelite

Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Bakelite shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Bakelite offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Bakelite at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Bakelite? Wrong! If the Bakelite is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Bakelite then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Bakelite? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Bakelite and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Bakelite wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Bakelite then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Bakelite site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Bakelite, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Bakelite, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

Bakelite is a material based on the thermosetting plastic phenol formaldehyde resin, polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride developed in 1907–1909 by Belgian-American 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 nonconductor and heat-resistant properties in radio and telephone casings and electrical insulators, and was also used in such diverse products as kitchenware, jewelery, pipe stems, and children's toys.In 1993 Bakelite was designated an ACS National Historical Chemical Landmarks in recognition of its significance as the world's first synthetic plastic.http://acswebcontent.acs.org/landmarks/newproducts_t.html#bakelite

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

The name Bakelite was originally a brand, trademark name, but it is currently considered a generic term for all phenolic resin products, though some phenolic products besides Bakelite are brand-named. .

Bakelite AG (a German company) claims to own the trademark in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benelux, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia.http://www.bakelite.de/eng/D_04.htm

History Bakelite Corp. was formed in 1922 from General Bakelite Co., Condensite Corp. and Redmanol Chemical Products Company and subsequently merged into the Union Carbideoration in 1939. 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. (The building was demolished in 1998.) The company was later acquired by the Union Carbideoration.

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 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, external living, and under a variety of commercial brand names.

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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 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 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 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

—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 Tagged Image File Format (.tif) viewer to view the patent.)

Trivia

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 Penny (U.S. coin) in the United States during World War II because copper was needed for shell casings. Several patterns were made in 1942, but Steel penny instead in 1943 from recycled shell casings in 1944 and 1945.
Bakelite was used for the first solid body electric guitar, the Rickenbacker "Electro Spanish model B".
In the United Kingdom, many people refer to traditional black rotary dial telephones as "Bakelite phones" or "Bakelite telephones", regardless of the actual material used to make the device. A Bakelite telephone typically carries a kitsch or retro image.
A variant of Bakelite called Catalin became very popular in the 1930s, especially in making radio cases. Colorful "Bakelite Jewelery" (non-dark brown in color) is probably misnomer of Catalin for its Bakelite predecessor. Catalin is a trademarked name.
Bakelite is mistakenly used as a term for many vintage guitar parts made of polystyrene, urea-formaldehyde, or other early plastics. An example of a true Bakelite part is the pickguard found on early 1950s Fender Telecasters.
The Russian material 'Shpon', which was used widely in WW2 for aircraft structures, is a wood laminate impregnated with phenolic resin and cured in a heated mould. The aft fuselages and outer wing panels of the Polikarpov I-16, early MiGs, and the early Yak fighters are Shpon mouldings, for example.
The Russian AK-74 assault rifles used magazines made of Bakelite and were an unusual orange in color.
When rubbed, original Bakelite has a telltale odor.
The original triangular hand guards of the M16 rifle were composed of Bakelite.