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BAKELITE
Pronounced As: baklit [for its inventor, L. H. Baekeland], synthetic thermosetting resin. It has been widely used both alone, to form whole objects, and in combination with other materials, as a laminate or a surface coating. It was used as a substitute for hard rubber, amber, or celluloid; for insulating electrical apparatus (since it is a nonconductor); and for the manufacture of certain machinery gears, phonograph records, and many other articles useful and ornamental and as diverse in character as buttons, billiard balls, pipestems, and umbrella handles. Bakelite is a condensation polymer of formaldehyde and phenol. In practice, the phenol and formaldehyde are first polymerized to a small extent by using the proper choice of catalyst and temperature. The resulting prepolymer, called a resol, is a low-melting, soluble material, which can then be combined with a filler (usually cotton linters or wood fibers) and a pigment and heated under pressure in a mold to yield an object of the desired shape. The pure resin is colorless or amber-colored and very brittle; the various fillers and other additives give it the desired properties depending on its application. Heating of the prepolymer results in extensive cross-links between the polymer chains, resulting in a tightly bound three-dimensional network. A Bakelite-type resin can also be formed using furfural in place of the formaldehyde
http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/01021.html
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HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS BAKELITE?
Bakelite is a synthetic resin chemically formulated and named after its Belgian inventor, Chemist L.H.Baekeland c.1909. It is pronounced "Bay Ka Lite". Originally it was used for molding items that were previously done of celluloid or hard rubber. One of the original uses was for pool balls. It is collectible in all its forms including jewelry, buttons, radio cases, lamps, dresser sets and many more items. It was used commercially for parts especially in electrical wiring. After bakelite and the introduction of so many other plastics and composition materials it was easy to confuse them all. People began to lump all plastics into one generic term "Bakelite". However, experienced collectors developed ways of testing for bakelite some of which follow. None, however, can take the place of your own experience and careful inspection. Check out books in your local library (see the end of this article) and talk to other collectors.
1 Rub your fingers over the piece. (I grasp the piece with my hand and use my thumb to rub) until it is warm, then smell.
It is unforgettable - formaldehyde or a carbolic acid.
Familiarize yourself with this odor.
Not all pieces will have the same odor intensity, but it will be there.
2 Immerse the piece in hot water (not with rhinestones, please).The smell should be the same.
3 Bakelite has a clunky sound. Hit two plastic pieces together, then two bakelite - check the difference. Feel the difference.
4 Hot needle - be careful though.
Heat a needle until it is red hot and then pick an inconspicuous place on the piece to stick the needle in.
Wait just a second - not too long! There's that smell again! Also, non thermoplastics will melt and celluloid is extremely flammable so again BE CAREFUL!
5 There is a product on the market called "Scrubbing Bubbles" bathroom cleaner.
When put on a q-tip and touched to bakelite, the q-tip will turn yellow. I have only tested this product and have had successful results. No harm has come to the bakelite.
6 Colors - some giveaways are colors and shapes. Look at some of the bakelite books on the market and note the colors.
Look at pieces reputable dealers have on display. Bakelite colors do change with age.
http://www.worldint.com/science/bakelite.html
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