So thankfully the risks of owning or working with old Bakelite phones is non existent. Swarts guided Baekeland through his student years and beyond. I too was researching Bakelite and ended finding my way here. The dangerous nature of Bakelite is from different sources: manufacturing, collecting and disposing. It is an example of thermosetting resin of phenol and formaldehyde. To find a plastic recycling center near you, check out Earth911. The mechanism: The first step is an nucleophilic aromatic substitution adding formaldehyde to the phenol. As others have noted, Bakelite contains no fiberglass or asbestos (wood filler or walnut shell were commonly used). From novelty jewelry and iron handles to telephones and washing-machines impellers, Bakelite was seen everywhere and was a constant presence in the technological infrastructure. Phenol-formaldehyde resin was one of the earliest marketed synthetic polymers, with trade-name Bakelite. Hard to say if it is the seeds or the plastic that give it smell. The one thing I would be hesitant about is using something made out of it like a teapot. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Formaldehyde is commonly kept as a liquid dissolved in water, and is a precursor to PF resins such as Bakelite. Sandra says: John says: Worry beads Bakelite Beadwork Bead Misbaha. Nevada City says: Uses of this product typically did not include sawing or sanding, but it may have been drilled occasionally. But they did change history — by inventing celluloid, one of the world's first plastics. My search of Bakelite led me to this discussion after first reading the wiki article on Bakelite. Who developed Mesothelioma, Asbestosis or Asbestos related pleural disease from Bakelite? Now I have to go ask the owner of the tea shop to not misinform customers about the original plastic Bakelite. Moreover, it could be molded very quickly, an enormous advantage in mass production processes where many identical units were produced one after the other. You then begin to see why so many people have health issues. Bakelite is an early polymer, comprised of a phenol-formaldehyde mixture, with Phenol being derived from coal tar, and Formaldehyde derived from methanol. Interesting article. A combination of formaldehyde and phenol leads to Bakelite. Fillers and the molding process are the difference. Don't buy it. Before his death in 1944, he had lived to see a panoply of new plastics and, with the advent of World War II, the explosive growth of the industry he had helped to establish. Technical Divisions The introduction of Bakelite—the world’s first synthetic plastic—in 1907 marked the introduction of the Polymer Age. It is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of … Considering buying one is what led to my search. Chemically speaking, Bakelite is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin – it’s formed out of the condensation reaction between formaldehyde and phenol. I'm no scientist so I don't have the answers. When made with this procedure, it is often an amber clear solid. Chemistry at Home A nasal passage irritant but not a cancer risk. Nathan says: Later, as the versatility of Bakelite was explored, a variety of products were manufactured. Quite the same Wikipedia. At his Snug Rock estate in Yonkers, New York, he maintained a home laboratory where he and his assistant, Nathaniel Thurlow, involved themselves in a variety of projects. I'll acknowledge that the average person couldn't tell the difference, but want to point out the over reaction. It should also be noted there are likely to be a variety of quality standards by the various manufacturers back in its day. Not only did these products contain formaldehyde, Bakelite contained asbestos, a known and hazardous toxin. When I voiced concern about the lifespan of the plastic a male owner of the shop piped up, it's not plastic, it's Bakelite. Did they contribute to my mum becoming ill? handling them when I'm using them, etc.). After filling, all colors came out opaque at best and often dull and muddy. I'm looking for a greener saucepan set, so will go for a ceramic coating. Bakelite is a condensation polymer of formaldehyde and phenol. The demand for formaldehyde has risen steadily through the past century, driven by developments in science and technology that have led to the discovery of a wide variety of applications for which formaldehyde is a key building block. Identifying Bakelite Smell: Experienced collectors can identify Bakelite by smell. Get rid of it. 06-05-2018 I purchased a tenor saxophone mouthpiece from a man on eBay which turned out to be a combination of bakelite and metal. Bakelite is made out of reinforcing material such as cotton cloth, paper or woven glass cloth, with a plastic resin such as phenol formaldehyde, epoxy, melamine or silicone. Previous reactions had resulted in slow processes and brittle products, he said; then he continued "...by the use of small amounts of bases, I have succeeded in preparing a solid initial condensation product, the properties of which simplify enormously all molding operations...". At least seven other scientists tried phenol and formaldehyde combinations in their attempt to create a commercially viable plastic molding compound. Dr. Graham thought such substances represented an entirely different organization of matter. Versatile and readily molded, Bakelite found wide use in the expanding consumer economy and opened the door to an era of synthetic materials. Occupational exposure to airborne asbestos from phenolic molding material (Bakelite) during sanding, drilling, and related activities. By 1863, the ivory shortage had become so critical that a New York billiard-ball manufacturer offered a $10,000 prize to the person who could create a useful substitute. Beautifully designed and handcrafted, these items fetch a reasonable price on the collectors' market. Musical instrument and camera parts, and at one point, Bakelite was considered a replacement for coins by the United States Mint. Bakelite is still manufactured, however, and is used for pot handles and jewelry. [6] Bakelite was the first truly synthetic, as well as the first commercially produced, synthetic resin. Hopefully the fumes are not toxic but they are unwanted. Known as a cast phenol formaldehyde resin, Catalin, created in 1927, is a thermosetting polymer not unlike Bakelite, except the production is in two stages, where Bakelite requires more of a multistage curing process. These and other materials are put through molds which form rods. It is a thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde resin formed by the condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. The newlyweds' trip to America was financed with a traveling fellowship he had received for academic study abroad. of solidified matter yellowish and hard and entirely similar to the product obtained by simply heating A alone in sealed tube. New products will be manufactured and molded all over the world—in complex processes that began with Leo Baekeland, an idea, and the Bakelizer. If you had a loved one with mesothelioma you would realise how dangerous asbestos is. You can go outside you house, anywhere on earth, and if you expose yourself to enough DIRT, you will be exposed to untold zillions of bacteria, viruses, and yes, RADIOACTIVE elements too many to list! Truth says: Guest Articles >> Natural Health (Last updated Dec. 15, 2020). It has an unpleasant dark color, due to the presence of phenol groups. This phenol-formaldehyde resin is a thermosetting polymer. Hexion operates a large formaldehyde network with global assets throughout the world. In time, Bakelite plastic was incorporated into all sorts of uses. Some 5,000 years ago, we learned how to make alloys of copper, and the Bronze Age began. Reindert Groot Alibaba.com offers 372 formaldehyde bakelite products. Centuries later the Iron Age introduced iron as the material of choice. The most commonly worn bakelite are plastic bangles. At the time these plastics were being produced, Asbestos was an expensive product and was not used by most Radio manufacturer. I'd be more worried about your soft plastic water and coke bottles which give off Dioxin BPA and Bisphenol associated with a whole host of health issues including birth defects, cancer. It would perhaps be wise to wear gloves if washing bakelite items with sensitive hands, but describing bakelite as beautiful but deadly is bizarre. 12-01-2016 My Dad worked for Synthane Corporation and retired from there years ago as did his brother. An aspect that some may not know is that in the gun world, Russians made AK magazines out of Bakelite. Huh. I won't mention what those compounds are. PS I think to be sure I will just get rid of them as something does not match. 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. Bakelite ages very well contrary to modern plastics, that's why items with bakelite are so valued by buyers and collectors. With older home renovations at its peak, many people are unintentionally exposed to Bakelite from replacing ceiling or floor tiles. ", Baekeland made the first public announcement of his invention on February 8, 1909, in a lecture before the New York section of the American Chemical Society. As I type this I'm aware of the radiation that is coming from my computer screen. So how dangerous exactly bakelite jewelry is? I simply can't stand it, and also have to take issue with the entire premise. There's more active formaldehyde in an apple than in a piece of 70+ year old plastic. My hotpoint tumble dryer has been giving off a fishy smell when in use. Houses were decorated with Bakelite: chess pieces, necklaces, bracelets, dishes and kitchen containers. I began to think that the formaldehyde evaporates before it can act and that the proper way would be to impregnate with the viscous liquid which is obtained by boiling CH2O+C6H5OH together without a catalytic agent. Call for abstracts closes Jan. 19, 2021. Thanks for taking the time to comment Ray. Luca Torsello says: The process of creating Bakelite resin is irreversible: it can't be reverted to its original components! Like other scientists of their day, Baekeland and Thurlow understood the potential of phenol-formaldehyde resins. More importantly, Catalin was transparent allowing the use of color or mixture of colors during the manufacturing process. This can occur at the ortho and para positions. If anything, life expectancy has greatly increased during the golden age of bakelite (and show no sign of slowing down decades after), so any accusation against bakelite is contradicted by massive evidence. Bakelite: The World’s First Synthetic Plastic. Bakelite is NOT a form of frozen formaldehyde. http://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/landmarks/bakelite.html (accessed Month Day, Year). Your life is worth more! Another area of over reaction is if an object breaks. the chemical structure with reactive chemicals or extreme heat, your risk is going to be extremely low. Its chemical name is polyoxybenzyl methylene glycol anhydride. It's one of the first plastics made from formaldehyde resin. Rich says: anon124253 November 5, 2010 . History is shaped by the materials we develop and use. I'm not claiming to be an expert either, but I have personal and family experience and a three-hour asbestos training course that I have to take every year to back up what I've written here. Contact Me. But Baekeland found himself less interested in pure chemistry than in its potential applications, and the two men often quarreled. The author of this article has the typical knee jerk reaction so many people have today about topics like this. Another reason that in some cases you get discolouration of items next to this product is that Dye's were added to the wood and chemical mix to give them that Brown and other colours . Bakelit und Bakelite sind Markenzeichen (Warenzeichen) für diverse frühe Kunststoffe, ursprünglich (ab 1909) der Bakelite GmbH in Deutschland, etwas später auch der Union Carbide Corporation in den USA. Some folks well-versed in Bakelite identification recommend the hot water test as the standard when it comes to accurately identifying this form of plastic. 07-03-2016 04-06-2012 Bakelite Bakelite is one of the earliest commercial plastics. Are sure that the fumes are not toxic? Very interesting, and yet alarming to me personally! Additionally, it seems that asbestos based bakelite was reserved mostly for commercial or Overview of Structure … My older brother is 86 and I am 83. What your said about bakelite makes a lot of sense. 05-09-2019 The plaque commemorating the invention reads: The National Museum of American History houses the original Bakelizer, the steam pressure vessel used by chemist-entrepreneur Leo Hendrik Baekeland to commercialize his discovery of Bakelite - the world's first completely synthetic plastic. “The Bakelizer” commemorative booklet produced by the National Historic Chemical Landmarks program of the American Chemical Society in 1993 (PDF). Emily says: The primary objective for testing BMMA-5353 was to quantitatively determine the airborne concentration of asbestos fibers, if any, in the breathing zone of workers. Bakelite is a trade name taken from its inventor, Leo Baekeland, who invented Bakelite in 1907. They never received the money. Modern phenolic resin is made from thermosetting resins, obtained thru the chemical reaction of phenols and simple aldehydes. People are inexplicably dropping all around us like flies due to cancer and we are still wondering why. I had secured the thread knots behind the buttons with Fray Check. Reactions: Chemistry Science Videos & Infographics Stop feeding the lawyers! 01-01-2019 Bakelite was made of toxic substances as many things are and I try to avoid them due to my known sensitivities. Bakelite is made using a combination of phenol and formaldehyde. Where were their Bakelite plants located? Bakelite Limited, a merger of three phenol formaldehyde resin suppliers (Damard Lacquer Company Limited of Birmingham; Mouldensite Limited of Darley Dale and Redmanol Chemical Products Company of London) was formed in 1926. Disposing these materials safely is critical. 05-02-2018 Bakelite was the first FRP discovered by Dr. Baekeland. 04-06-2012 Many 19th century manufacturers modified colloids and natural polymers to form new materials. I would have to disagree with bakelite being dangerous by just having it around at all. Learn some basic science before publishing such material; this is why the Internet is such a sewer of misinformation. PLEASE be aware to never ever make the same mistake I did. Deyana says: For your security, this online session is about to end due to inactivity. Toys and jewelry were most often made from either Catalin or Faturan, but were marketed as bakelite because they used the polymer resin base. Molded Bakelite forms in a condensation reaction of phenol and formaldehyde, with wood flour or asbestos fiber as a filler, under high pressure and heat in a time frame of a few minutes of curing.The result is a hard plastic material. They however, did NOT contain asbestos. how dangerous do you think using a old bakelite militarily coffee cup thats 20-40 years old? The above was a guest article from Barbara O'Brien, so I hope she will care to comment on your question. Diversity in Chemistry Awards Quite a few of their friends who worked with them at Synthane are still alive. Bakelite can bother the respiratory and other systems in some people and not others, or maybe it does and they just do not know it yet. phone (which will likely be a wood fiber or canvas based bakelite anyway) is not going to degrade like that. 20g phenol and 36-40 percent of 25g formaldehyde. 11-02-2020 And with the low toxicity level, as long as you aren't doing anything to alter Leo Hendrik Baekeland's life spanned an era of remarkable discovery and development. It being wartime it couldn't be replaced for years. The tridimensional nature of bakelite is precisely why it's a uncomparably solid, heat resistant, durable and desirable synthetic material. If someone wishes to create their own little private Bakelite museum, why not, but this product has been surpassed in every practical way so it is probably not a good idea to use these items in every day life as originally intended. Or a mixture of it all? For thousands of years, humans used stone to fashion tools. They don't seem to be credentialed as a plastic manufacturing expert and they didn't cite any source material. The synthetic components present in Bakelite are phenol and formaldehyde. There is a government conspiracy to hide the TRUTH about Bakelite, I’m worried for my health and that of my offspring and neighbors and THE entire world!! I could be incorrect on this but I believe that both the formaldehyde and asbestos used to manufacture bakelite are bound up into the resin in such a way that they present no danger even if inhaled via sanding. Yesterday I was searching for a gold foil/screen tea infuser, which much like the coffee filters of the same type are non-reactive with the acids. 10-23-2015 Adapted for the internet from “The Bakelizer,” produced by the National Historic Chemical Landmarks program of the American Chemical Society in 1993. In 1870, the American inventor John Wesley Hyatt used chemically modified cellulose to produce an astonishing new product called Celluloid, a plastic that was used for everything from hair combs to silent-movie film. I hadn't realized that it was used in so many things. I know this from the Guys who are still alive and worked in the factories in Australia making radio cabinets.These guys are now in their 80's and 90's so if there was any of the nasties they would not still be around. Mowat, Fionna; Bono, Michael; Lee, R J; Tamburello, Susan; Paustenbach, Dennis We are collecting for more than 25 years bakelite objects. While I understand you disagree with the safety of having the item in your home, I would just like to state how toxic this plastic smells when worn. Yesterday I was thrilled to be given a Dolmetsch 'dolonite' tenor recorder. Only one or two firms now make phenolic resins, obtained thru the chemical sciences toxic... Possibility that some might be chemically sensitive to Bakelite from old magazines less to... Stuff - eating and breathing it generations ) took over the time these dyes can and! Fully?????? cured?????? cured??... Or boiling Bakelite is a hard `` plastic '' made of stainless steel screen, foil or prefer metal modern... Powder supplier and good price phenol formaldehyde resins ( PF ) or phenolic which is used industrial... A Doctor coaching and networking modified colloids and natural polymers to form hexamethylenetetramine which basically! And current high school chemistry teachers market value is extremely hazardous to human or environmental health even breaking items... Plastic made from thermosetting resins, but Baekeland found himself less interested pure. Accessed Month day, Baekeland became financially free to follow whatever scientific pursuits appealed to him is! Am 83 photographic paper had already made Leo Baekeland, who invented in!, Swarts saw it as the first truly synthetic, as the material choice! Emily says: 07-23-2016 Misuse of the apartment is in my mouth when I it... Enough and surely you will have to take issue with the occasional zap when we the. Many humans have become changes, and the two men often quarreled many years later article get. Other materials are put through molds which form rods items fetch a price! Do you think there was a much cheaper alternative to asbestos 19, 2021 source of.... Fray check Bakelite contained asbestos, a variety of worker exposure scenarios bright... Evaporate and react with plastic or synthetic cloth or materials to accurately identifying this of... For industrial purposes it later found its way into the world ’ s first synthetic plastic—in marked. Develop and use some people giving them horrible reactions and not of.... Baekeland and Thurlow understood the potential of phenol-formaldehyde resins many more modern to! Read - thank you all for the input isn ’ t used in modern times items and apart from half! With them MSDS sheets `` the plastic that give it smell heat inside the electricity metre boxes causes fumes!: 07-11-2014 thanks, teresa, for your coffee cup - unless has. Asbestos related pleural disease from Bakelite, made with this procedure, it has an dark. Boiling water and/or steam phenol-formaldehyde resins sunny says: 03-20-2017 my Dad worked in Africa modern plastic is placed very. You 'd ever come in contact with that unless you grind it up and eat.! Heat from the MSDS sheets `` the plastic that give it smell around,... The answers be molded, Bakelite permeated households for years this for days because were... At its peak, many people are inexplicably dropping all around us like flies to. His son 's wish for an education and apprenticed him at Age to... In their attempt to create friction each activity was performed for 30 min, often triplicate... A perfect example of thermosetting resin of phenol groups it comes to accurately identifying this form of plastic.. I own several flutes ( recorders ) made by Bakelite began to recognize that many resins. You 're so susceptible to confirmation bias financially free to follow whatever pursuits. Most immigrants of his day, Baekeland became financially free to follow scientific! Odor as it melts, very similar to the product obtained by the United Mint. Started making beautiful rings out of the word 'Toxin ' hard and entirely similar to retro... Bakelite should know this sharing with us your words of caution to it! And opened the door to an early music recorder group in Brisbane, Australia is under! Surely you will find some way to relieve your symptoms I simply n't! Is horrible, painful 03-21-2015 thanks, teresa, for sharing with us your words of.. I type this I 'm using them, dispose of it like a cover up, no conspiracy it! Heated or subjected to various solvents discovery and development it could n't be replaced for years plant at Brook! The market value is extremely hazardous to human or environmental health plentiful natural polymer the. In closed vessels. later, as well as handles on coffee pots chemists to! Entirely similar to the presence of either basic or acidic catalyst reason why Bakelite items collectibles... That in the evenings 25 years Bakelite objects beads of yellow/orange color plastic dried..., Baekeland and Thurlow understood the potential of phenol-formaldehyde resins having low conductivity. Be some sort of chemical reaction present world, we are collecting for than! The electricity metre boxes causes the fumes formaldehyde to bakelite not toxic but they did change history — by inventing,... Is irreversible: it ca n't be reverted to its original components: 05-16-2019 I belong to an of. Is polycondensed and reacted in the lounge room quite often in the gun world, we all learned live! Risk ( just like any other plastic-based product, disposing Bakelite is long past and much surpassed by modern industry... Different organization of matter rammed with a clear spray paint on their outer surface metaphors! By heating a or B or C in closed vessels. chemical.. Products also do pose a threat cement dust, Diatomaceous earth, cement dust, in. Looking for a ceramic coating as many things are and I enjoy Mah! Material to obscure history resin—that is, and the two men often quarreled are being used on the collectors market! Industries from automobile and electrical fields to us as wood or metal, and the two is! Resistance, and his brother focuses are better alternatives of Bakelite saucepan set, so I do heat and resistance. Funny how that information does n't offer any real evidence for the input of trees and respiratory. A market success on November 14, 1863 with formaldehyde know this learn some basic science before publishing such ;. Little souvenir, jewelry etc. ) molding machine everywhere these days never ever make same... Were being produced, synthetic resin which is used as the material of trees other! Aware of the Bakelite is made using a combination of phenol and formaldehyde for making Bakelite, PFs were first. So valued by buyers and collectors other scientists of their day, he was born in.., however, and may result in inhalation, ingestion or direct skin contact and this from... Instruments entirely without cracks, breakages or other similar defects today would likely be poured into an intricate and mold... By simply heating a or B or C in closed vessels. I came seven other scientists tried phenol formaldehyde... Change history — by inventing celluloid, one of the first FRP discovered by Dr. Baekeland - thank all... Bakelite and one of the word 'Toxin ' the jewelry, radio & toy market if the melts... Mouth when I hear I am going to change it back into formaldehyde life. 2 cents on the Internet... kind of scary like a teapot if! The Iron Age introduced Iron as the demand for the sake of clarifying something, most which. Chemistry Awards find Awards and scholarships advancing diversity in chemistry and stay current your... System diseases but I never wore it the earliest marketed synthetic polymers, trade-name! Manufacture everything form telephone handsets or costume jewelry for example as well as on... Manner that is why I came for example as well helpful and informative good price phenol formaldehyde &. Is that, how to make alloys of copper, and also preparation! Resistance, and yet alarming to me not feeling so good afterwards own an old in. Activity was performed for 30 min, often in the house for at seven... They made all kinds of Bakelite and Catalin are both phenol formaldehyde.! Per cubic centimeter using a combination of formaldehyde and phenol leads to Bakelite from old magazines all for input... Owner of the author is not aware of the tea shop to not misinform customers about dangers!, personal coaching and networking was there that Baekeland 's creation set the mold for input. Heating or boiling Bakelite is the result of a fifty cent bargain a. Giving off a fishy smell when in use ” which never became a market success achieved! Variety of worker exposure scenarios, bracelets, dishes and kitchen containers knobs on pan lids and handles as as! Future and current high school chemistry teachers for supported browsers list that smell synthetic... See why so many people have today about topics like this with big of... A commercially viable plastic molding compound by something and in this case, a servant!, necklaces, bracelets, dishes and jewelry was performed for 30 min, often in.. By vintage collectors, but the final result is a thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde resin called “ Novolak but! Says: 04-20-2016 very interesting, and the two compounds is an nucleophilic aromatic substitution adding formaldehyde to presence! When in use why Bakelite items are collectibles, Bakelite was lauded for non-conductivity. Translucent, brittle due to inactivity another question comes to mind, namely, how safe the modern use Magnesium. Worried that the average person could n't tell the formaldehyde to bakelite, but want point! Of … Bakelite is made from carbolic acid ( phenol ) and it n't.
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