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Bakelite
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phenol-formaldehyde resin Black Bakelite rotary telephone with a coiled cord and a circular dial displaying numbers and French text in the center, typical of mid-20th century design.
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phenol-formaldehyde resin
phenol-formaldehyde resin Phenol-formaldehyde resins are heat-resistant and waterproof, though somewhat brittle. They are formed through the reaction of phenol with formaldehyde, followed by cross-linking of the polymeric chains.

Bakelite

chemical compound
Also known as: PF resin
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History

Bakelite, trademarked synthetic resin invented in 1907 by Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland. A hard, infusible, and chemically resistant plastic, Bakelite was based on a chemical combination of phenol and formaldehyde (phenol-formaldehyde resin), two compounds that were derived from coal tar and wood alcohol (methanol), respectively, at that time. This made it the first truly synthetic resin, representing a significant advance over earlier plastics that were based on modified natural materials. Because of its...

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