What is backalite plastic?

Question

What is backalite plastic?Why phenol is used to form backelite plastic?

Answer 1

Backlite was a significant discovery in the field of polymer chemistry.

Most of the time when chemist got goo in their reaction flasks - they just said the reaction had failed and discarded whatever was produced. With backlit (or Phenol-formaldehyde resin) things changed that lead to synthetic polymer chemisty that we enjoy today.

Phenol and formaldehyde react to form a polymer:

Ph-OH + CHO --> o-Ph(CH2OH)-OH + Ph-OH -->

o-Ph(OH)-CH2-(oPh)-OH

The final structure of the polymer is pretty complex, because the formaldehyde can react at either the ortho(o) - or para(p) posistions (or both).

The amazing think is that you can get the bakelit to crossling to a very stable polymer that is very tough if you heat it (thermosetting).

So you make the resin it comes out as a brownish goo, and then you mold it into the shape you interested in and heat it - it crosslinks and becomes a very robust substance.

I believe billiard balls were one of the first applications of Bakelite.

Answer 2

You mean bakelite, right?

In 1906 Leo H. Baekeland invented the first successful thermosetting (cured by heat) plastic. It was based on the simple phenol molecule which was polymerized with formaldehyde to make bakelite plastic. Often phenolic resin is used to saturate linen or fiberglass cloth that is laminated before the resin fully cures, resulting in reinforced plastic. Leo Hendrik Baekeland is considered the founder of the modern plastics industry.

Answer 3

Bakelite is made from formaldehyde and phenol. That is why phenol is used to make Bakelite plastic.

It is a condensation reaction where a molecule of water is eliminated during polymerization. The oxygen atom comes from the formaldehyde, one hydrogen atom from one phenol molecular, and the other hydrogen atom from another phenol molecule.

Bakelite was the first true plastic made entirely from synthetic materials, for more information see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol_formaldehyde_resin


A chemical structure of bakelite can be found at:

http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/hillchem3/medialib/media_portfolio/text_images/CH24/FG24_20.JPG

Answer 4

BAKELITE - was the first 'true' plastic and was discovered in 1909 with the first commercial products made in the 20's - it is a brittle plastic that tends to discolor with age and is a collectors item these days

Answer 5

bakelite was what was used in the 30's and 40's before they came up with the way plastic is made now. It was heavy and fragile. alot of people collect it now and it can be very valuable.

Answer 6

polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride. phenol is used with formaldehyde and wood flour under heat and pressure to create BAKELITE, NOT backalite. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite