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Catalin is a brand name for a thermosetting plastic
Thermosetting plastic

Thermosetting plastics are polymer materials that irreversibly Curing form. The cure may be done through heat , through a chemical reaction , or irradiation such as electron beam processing....
 popular in the 1930s. Chemically, it's a phenol formaldehyde resin
Phenol formaldehyde resin

The earliest commercial synthetic resin is based on a Phenol formaldehyde resin with the commercial name Bakelite, and is formed from an elimination reaction of phenol with formaldehyde....
. Catalin is a cast bakelite
Bakelite

Bakelite is a material based on the thermosetting plastic phenol formaldehyde resin polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, developed in 1907?1909 by Demographics of Belgium Dr....
 product, with a different manufacturing process (two-stage process) than other types of bakelite resins (without using fillers such as sawdust
Sawdust

File:Saw dust .jpgSawdust is composed of fine particles of wood. This material is produced from cutting with a saw, hence its name. It has a variety of practical uses, including serving as a mulch, or as an alternative to clay cat litter, or as a fuel, or for the manufacture of particleboard....
 or carbon black
Soot

Soot is a general term that refers to impure carbon particles resulting from the incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon. It is more properly restricted to the product of the gas-phase combustion process but is commonly extended to include the residual pyrolyzed fuel particles such as cenospheres, charred wood, petroleum coke, etc....
). Catalin is transparent, near colorless, rather than opaque, brown, so unlike other bakelite phenolics it can be dyed bright colors or even marbled
Marbling

Marbling is the quality of a surface that has streaks of color, like marble. For example:*Faux Painting, Faux finishing or faux marbling, the art of painting walls or furniture to look like real marble....
. This has made Catalin more popular than other types of bakelite.






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Catalin is a brand name for a thermosetting plastic
Thermosetting plastic

Thermosetting plastics are polymer materials that irreversibly Curing form. The cure may be done through heat , through a chemical reaction , or irradiation such as electron beam processing....
 popular in the 1930s. Chemically, it's a phenol formaldehyde resin
Phenol formaldehyde resin

The earliest commercial synthetic resin is based on a Phenol formaldehyde resin with the commercial name Bakelite, and is formed from an elimination reaction of phenol with formaldehyde....
. Catalin is a cast bakelite
Bakelite

Bakelite is a material based on the thermosetting plastic phenol formaldehyde resin polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, developed in 1907?1909 by Demographics of Belgium Dr....
 product, with a different manufacturing process (two-stage process) than other types of bakelite resins (without using fillers such as sawdust
Sawdust

File:Saw dust .jpgSawdust is composed of fine particles of wood. This material is produced from cutting with a saw, hence its name. It has a variety of practical uses, including serving as a mulch, or as an alternative to clay cat litter, or as a fuel, or for the manufacture of particleboard....
 or carbon black
Soot

Soot is a general term that refers to impure carbon particles resulting from the incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon. It is more properly restricted to the product of the gas-phase combustion process but is commonly extended to include the residual pyrolyzed fuel particles such as cenospheres, charred wood, petroleum coke, etc....
). Catalin is transparent, near colorless, rather than opaque, brown, so unlike other bakelite phenolics it can be dyed bright colors or even marbled
Marbling

Marbling is the quality of a surface that has streaks of color, like marble. For example:*Faux Painting, Faux finishing or faux marbling, the art of painting walls or furniture to look like real marble....
. This has made Catalin more popular than other types of bakelite. In the 1930-50's it quickly replaced most plastic consumer goods.

Catalin was not a durable product. It tended to shrink and crack as it aged. Also, due to oxidation, it changed color as it aged. This caused some every interesting effects when radio cabinets were made from Catalin. Catalin radios are highly sought after by collectors.

Catalin is a trademark of the American Catalin Corporation.

Catalin cast bakelite is perhaps the most worldwide recognized plastic used in fashion accessories and fine, expensive jewelry.

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