Bakelite Plastic

What is Bakelite Plastic ?

Bakelite is the earliest invented plastic by a man. It is also called phenol-formaldehyde resin; the name comes as phenol and formaldehyde, which are the main compounds responsible for making bakelite resin. It is hard, incapable of fusing, has a good surface hardness, is dimensionally stable, and is chemically resistant.

Polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, better known as Bakelite, is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from a condensation reaction of phenol with formaldehyde.

Bakelite / Phenolics are strong, stiff and have high impact and compressive strengths. They have high mechanical and electrical insulating properties. Bakelite available in two types - Paper-based and Cotton-based. Bakelite available in form of Sheet, Rod and Gasket with different sizes of thickness, diameter and measurement.

The History of Bakelite

Bakelite was the major form of “art plastic” from the 1930s through to the 1950s.

It was patented by Belgian born Leo Hendrik Baekeland in New York, in 1907, and was the first truly synthetic and thermosetting plastic.  Thermosetting meant that it could not be melted or changed by heating once formed. 

Once set, this plastic was unaffected by heat, solvents or acid, and was electrically resistant and shatterproof.  Neither would it crack or discolour when exposed to sunlight. 

Bakelite : Bakelite là sự kết hợp từ phenol và formaldehyde, với bột gỗ hoặc sợi amiăng như một chất độn. Hỗn hợp này được đặt dưới áp lực, và sau khi đóng rắn sẽ tạo thành vật liệu nhựa cứng có định hình.

Technical Bakelite Plastic

Chemical formula: (C6H6O·CH2O)n

Molar mass: Variable

Appearance: Brown solid

Density: 1.3 g/cm3

Thermal conductivity: 0.2 W/(m·K)

Heat capacity (C): 0.92 kJ/(kg·K)

Different Type of Bakelite

Bakelite sheet, Bakelite rod, Bakelite Tube...

Bakelite Sheet

Dimension: 1030 x 2070 mm; 1000 x 1200  mm                      

Thickness: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, … 50mm

Colour: cam / đen / nâu / cánh gián

Gravity : 1,5 g/cm3

Bakelite Sheet

Bakelite Rod

Length: 1000 mm; 2000 mm

Size: 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,…55, 60, 70, 80,…200 (mm)

Colour: cam / đen / nâu

Gravity : 1,5 g/cm3

Bakelite Rod

Bakelite Tube / Bakelite Bushing

Length: 1000 mm; 2000 mm

Size: 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,…55, 60, 70, 80,…200 (mm)

Colour: cam / đen / nâu

Gravity : 1,5 g/cm3

Bakelite Tube

What Colour is Bakelite?

Bakelite is commonly found in colours such as different variations of yellow - dark yellow, butterscotch, and various shades of green.

Korea : Mầu cánh dán

China: Vàng cam (Type A) and Cam (Type B)

Germany: 

Key Properties of Bakelite Plastic

Mechanical Properties of Bakelite

Tensile strength: 34.5 - 62.1 (MPa)

Young’s Modulus: 2.76 - 4.83 (GPa)

Compressive strength: 30.4 - 54.6 (MPa)

Elongation: 1.5 - 2 (%)

Fracture Toughness: 0.787 - 1.21 (MPa·m1/2)

Hardness: 8.3 - 14.9 (HV)

Thermal Properties of Bakelite

Maximum Service Temprature: 200 - 230 (°C)

Thermal Conductivity: 0.14 - 0.15 (W/m·K)

Thermal expansion coefficient: 120 - 125 (µstrain/°C)

Glass Transition Temperature: 167 - 267 (°C)

Specific Heat Capacity: 1,470 - 1,530 (J/kg·K)

Electrical Properties of Bakelite

Electrical resistivity: 3.3×1018 - 3×1019 (µohm·cm)

Dielectric constant: 4 - 6

Dielectric strength: 9.84 - 15.7 106 (V/m)

Key Features of Bakelite

Excellent resistance to several destructive solvents

Easily processable

Good heat and search resistant attributes

Thanks to its low electric conductivity, it is resistant to electric current.

Products with a high surface finish can be obtained.

Applications of Bakelite

PEEK is used in some of the toughest plastic applications that require the tightest tolerances.

These include medical device parts, medical implants, structural applications, ultra-high vacuum applications, valve seats, pump gears, high purity seals, electrical connectors, screws, impellers, wear blades, lab equipment, analytical equipment, columns, cable insulation, and more.

Applications of Bakelite