Difference Between Bakelite and Plastics

Distinctive Features of Bakelite and Plastic

Plastic and Bakelite are both relatively large molecular-weight organic polymers, but their characteristics and applications are different. Because of its many practical applications, Bakelite has earned the nickname “material of a thousand uses” and is widely recognized as the first synthetic plastic. Countless plastics exist, each with its own set of advantages and uses. Plastics have largely supplanted more conventional building materials like wood, glass, and ceramics in contemporary culture. Bakelite’s special characteristics set it apart from other types of plastic. Bakelite stands out from other plastics because it was the first synthetically made thermosetting material with heat resistance and electrical non-conductivity. 

I’m a little confused about Bakelite.

Bakelite is a unique plastic with its own set of characteristics. In 1907, Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland synthesized phenol-formaldehyde resin for the first time. Bakelite was the first plastic to be manufactured synthetically, making its introduction a watershed moment in the field of chemistry due to the material’s electric non-conductivity and thermosetting qualities. It finds use in everything from phones and electronics to jewellery and kitchen tools.

Plastic is what?

Plastic, the most common polymeric material, comes in a huge variety of synthetic and semi-synthetic forms. Plastics are inexpensive and easy to work with. Plastic has largely supplanted more conventional materials including cotton, clay, wood, stone, leather, born, paper, metal, and glass in contemporary society.

What sets Bakelite apart from plastic?

Bakelite and plastic characteristics:

Bakelite: Because it is a thermosetting plastic and does not carry electricity, it finds use in insulating products. Bakelite is non-flammable and resistant to heat and chemicals. Bakelite has a dielectric constant between 4.4 and 5.4. This plastic is inexpensive and has greater flexibility than most others.

The word “plastic” comes from the Greek word plastikos, which means “moldable and shapeable.” Plastics have the general quality of being easy to mould and shape into desired forms. However, several polymers exist, many of which have impressive qualities.

Bakelite and Plastic Functions:

Bakelite: Bakelite’s non-conductive and heat-resistant qualities make it ideal for use in radio and telephone housings and electrical insulators. The final result can be made in a wide range of hues by combining many colours. It is also commonly used in the manufacture of plugs and switches, jewellery, pipe stems, children’s toys, and weapons, among other things. Sheet, rod, and tube products fabricated from bakelite are commercially available under a number of brand names.

Plastic: There are several kinds of plastic available, each with its own set of uses.

The Class of Plastics Popular Applications

• PE, or polyethene plastic bottles and grocery store bags.
• Fabrics made from polyester (PES) fibres
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PT)Plastic containers like detergent containers, milk jugs, and phone cases.
• PVC, or polyvinyl chloride.Pipes, drapes, frames, and floors in the bathroom
• Chemical formula: Straws, yoghurt tubs, and bottle tops
• Packaging and food storage are made of polystyrene (PS), as well as CD and cassette tape cases and disposable cups, plates, and silverware.
• HIPS stands for high-impact polystyrene. Food containers, refrigerator liners, and vending machine cups.

Bakelite and Plastic Chemistry:

Benzene and formaldehyde are used in the synthesis of Bakelite, an organic polymer. Bakelite is a polymer in which the unit of repetition is (C6H6OCH2O)n. “polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride” is its formal chemical name. 

Video 01: Bakelite: The First Synthetic Plastic