Bakelite
First synthetic polymer
Bakelite is the trademark for an early synthetic plastic invented in 1907, made by combining phenol and formaldehyde under heat and pressure.
It was the first fully synthetic plastic and revolutionized manufacturing—used for everything from electrical components to jewelry to car parts.
Items made from it are now collectible: That old Bakelite radio is an Art Deco classic. (Lowercase bakelite is the generic form.)
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- telephoneVoice communication device
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
- banglesRigid wrist ornaments
- buttonsSmall disc fasteners
knobs · handles · cabinet · receiver · dashboard · appliance · switchboard · plugs
Old valued collectible
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- retroEvoking recent past
- 1930sFourth decade, twentieth century
- 1940sFourth decade, twentieth century
streamline · heirloom · Americana · midcentury · nostalgia · estate · patina · kitsch
Of hydroxybenzene compounds
- resinViscous plant secretion
- thermosettingHardens permanently when heated
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
plastic · synthetic · molded · celluloid · vulcanite · hardened · nonconductive · insulator
Obvious; inventor's monopoly
- 1907Date, twentieth century's start
- inventionNew device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- industrialOf factories and production
mass-production · manufacturing · molding · prototype · chemistry · laboratory · commercial · revolutionary
radio
Electromagnetic wave receiver
- telephoneVoice communication device
- jewelryOrnamental personal accessories
- banglesRigid wrist ornaments
buttons · knobs · handles · cabinet · receiver · dashboard · appliance · switchboard · plugs · sockets
antique
Old valued collectible
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- retroEvoking recent past
- 1930sFourth decade, twentieth century
1940s · streamline · heirloom · Americana · midcentury · nostalgia · estate · patina · kitsch · atomic age
phenolic
Of hydroxybenzene compounds
- resinViscous plant secretion
- thermosettingHardens permanently when heated
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
formaldehyde · plastic · synthetic · molded · celluloid · vulcanite · hardened · nonconductive · insulator · laminate
patent
Obvious; inventor's monopoly
- 1907Date, twentieth century's start
- inventionNew device or method
- breakthroughSudden important advance
industrial · mass-production · manufacturing · molding · prototype · chemistry · laboratory · commercial · revolutionary · modern
- Formaldehyde Productsformalin, hexamine
- plasticsplastics, plastic, polymers, polymer, polyethylene
- Chemical Industrychemical engineering, chemical manufacturing, chemical plants, industrial chemistry, petrochemicals
- insulatorsrubber, insulator, glass, dielectric, electrical tape
- Materials HistoryBronze Age, Iron Age, Stone Age, Copper Age, iron smelting
- condensation polymersnylon, polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, polycarbonate