Catalin

Catalin is a brand name for a thermosetting plastic popular in the 1930s. Chemically, it's a phenol formaldehyde resin. Catalin is a cast bakelite product, with a different manufacturing process (two-stage process) than other types of bakelite resins (without using fillers such as sawdust or carbon black). Catalin is transparent, near colorless, rather than opaque, brown, so unlike other bakelite phenolics it can be dyed bright colors or even marbled. 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. [http://www.uv201.com/Radio_Pages/fada_bullet.htm] 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.

External links

* [http://www.americancatalin.com Official website of American Catalin Corp.]
* cite web |publisher= Victoria and Albert Museum
url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1157_art_deco/about/starobjects/radio400.htm
title= Art Deco Radios
accessdate= 2007-11-15