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Bakelite for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: 'beɪkə,laɪt

What does Bakelite really mean?

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Alright, so "Bakelite" is a type of plastic that was really popular back in the day, before all the modern types of plastic we have now. Think of it as one of the OG plastics! But what's cool about Bakelite is that it was the first synthetic plastic ever made, which means it wasn't something found in nature, like wood or metal. It's pretty special in that way!

Now, the word "Bakelite" actually comes from the last name of the guy who invented it, Leo Baekeland. He was a really smart chemist who figured out how to make this new kind of plastic in the early 1900s. It was a big deal because before Bakelite, people didn't really have a good way to make things like buttons, handles, and all sorts of other stuff out of plastic.

Let's dive a little deeper into what Bakelite is actually made of. It's a type of thermosetting plastic, which means that once it's formed and cooled, it can't be melted or reshaped like some other types of plastic. It's also really good at staying strong and hard, even when it's heated up. That's why it was so useful for making things like electrical insulators, like the casing for those old-school radios and telephones.

So, at its core, "Bakelite" is a vintage type of plastic that was a big deal back in the day. It's named after its inventor, Leo Baekeland, and it's known for being the first synthetic plastic. It's also a thermosetting plastic, which means it stays strong and hard even when it's heated up. Cool, right?

Revised and Fact checked by Sophia Wright on 2023-11-15 20:46:25

Bakelite In a sentece

Learn how to use Bakelite inside a sentece

  • Bakelite is a type of plastic that was used to make old telephones.
  • Many old kitchenware items, like handles on pots and pans, were made of Bakelite.
  • Some vintage jewelry is made of Bakelite, including bangles and brooches.
  • Old radios and other electronic devices often used Bakelite for their cases.
  • Vintage cameras sometimes have Bakelite parts, like the knobs and casing.

Bakelite Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Bakelite Usage Of

Words that the original word is a domain usage of.