Bakelite® is the proprietary name for phenolic and other plastic thermoset

materials and is often indiscriminately used to describe any phenolic moulding

material. The name is derived from that of Dr. Leo Baekeland who developed

phenolic plastic in 1909.

​

This group of materials are also known as SRBF, SRBP & SRBG or Synthetic

Resin BondedFabric, Paper or Glass materials. Impregnating a reinforcing

material, such as cotton cloth,paper or woven glass cloth, with a plastic resin

such as phenol formaldehyde, epoxy, melamine or silicone, makes laminates.

​

Layers of this impregnated material are then pressed together and heated.

The heat and pressure causes the resin to melt and flow together between

the layers and then the resin undergoes a chemical change, which causes

it to solidify, bonding the layers together.

 

Bakelite® moulds extremely well and due to its excellent properties of

resistance to electricity,

 

Heat and chemicals it quickly became a much used material in early electrical

and automotive production. Its insulating abilities and non-conductive properties

made it a very popular material.

​

Laminates are made from a number of reinforcements and resins

That can be categorised into the following four main groups:

​

• Phenolic Cotton - Medium, Coarse & Fine weave.

​

• Phenolic Paper

​

• Glass Fabric- Epoxy, Melamine & Silicone impregnated

​

• Polyester Glass

​

An excellent material currently used as a modern alternative to Bakelite® that is hard, strong and stiff; with good toughness, low coefficient of friction and good chemical resistance combined with inherent dimensional stability is Sustarin C® Acetal.

​

​

CANVAS BAKELITE®

 

Canvas Bakelite® is made from a Phenol Formaldehyde thermosetting resin which is impregnated into cotton canvas fabric.

 

Generally three types of cotton are used for sheet production; fine, medium and coarse weave.

 

These grades are mainly used for mechanical applications where high strength, toughness and wear resistance are required. They are strong and rigid while exhibiting negligible creep or cold flow under load while being light, 20-25% the weight of steel, giving a high strength to weight ratio.

​

They are all electrical insulators with properties ranging from moderate to excellent. From a wear resistance perspective, the grades are excellent however their advantage is their ability to be effectively lubricated by water or water based solutions as an alternative to conventional oils or greases.

​

Environmentally, these grades are not harmed or corroded by exposure to outdoor weather conditions and are resistant to dilute acids and alkalis and a wide range of solvents. They are capable of working in a wide variety of temperatures ranging from cryogenics up to plus 120ºC continuously.

 

​

​Proven Industry Performer

​​

Electrical, Engineering, Automotive, Electric Motors, Marine Industry, Construction Industry

​

​

Applications

​​

• Gears

• Bearings

• Slide Ways

• Cams and Piston Rings

• Jigs and Fixtures

• Electrical Insulators

• Compressor Blades

• Pipeline Support Pads

• Thrust Washers

• Pile Driver Dollies

• Rollers

​

​

Properties

​

• Electrical Insulation: Moderate to Excellent

• Negligible Creep Or Cold Flow Under Load

• Resistant to Dilute Acids, Alkalis, Wide Range of Solvents

• Excellent For Stressful Mechanical Applications

• Can Be Lubricated With Water

• Wide Temperature Range: Freezing to 120ºc+

• High Strength and Toughness

• High Wear Resistance

• Suitable for Outdoor Use

• High Strength to Weight Ratio

• Light Weight

​

 

PAPER BAKELITE®

 

Paper Bakelite® is made from a Phenol Formaldehyde thermosetting resin which is impregnated into paper.Generally four types of paper grades are manufactured.

​

These grades are mainly used for electrical applications where moderate strength but high electrical insulation is required. They are rigid but brittle and exhibit negligible creep or cold flow under compression while being very light, with each grade having varying electrical insulation, machining and punching properties.

​

They are all electrical insulators with properties ranging from good to excellent but have poor mechanical properties. Environmentally, these grades are not harmed or corroded by exposure to outdoor weather conditions and are resistant to dilute acids and alkalis and a wide range of solvents. They are capable of working in a wide variety of temperatures ranging from cryogenics up to plus 120ºC continuously.

​

​

Applications

​

• Jigs and Fixtures

• Electrical Insulators

• Electrical Components

​​

​

Proven Industry Performer in Diverse Industries

​

Cryogenics, Electrical

 

 

Properties

​

• Excellent electrical insulation

• Resistant to Dilute Acids, Alkalis, Wide Range of Solvents

• Wide Temperature Range: Freezing to 120ºc+

• High Strength and Toughness

• High Wear Resistance

• Suitable for Outdoor Use

• Rigid but Brittle

• Poor Mechanical Properties

• Light Weight

 

 

​POLYESTER GLASS

 

Polyester Glass is specifically, cured unsaturated polyester resin in a non-woven glass mat, containing aluminium trihydrate, less than 2% organic peroxides and metallic stearates.

 

Available in sheet format this material is exclusively a low voltage electrical insulator although it has been used as a low cost non-metallic substitute for jigs and fixtures.

​

This material is classified under NEMA specifications as Type GPO-1, 2 or 3. Polyester Glass can be characterised by the following properties:

 

​

Applications

​

• Slip Ring Bodies

• Busbar Supports

• Low Temperature Electrical Insulators

• Terminal Boards

 

 

Proven Industry Performer in Diverse Industries

​

Electrical Insulation

 

​

Properties

​

• Low Cost

• Low Temperature Properties

• Low Electrical Insulation Value

• Good Punching Grade

​

​