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The Preparation of Bakelite

Last updated

Feb 23, 2023
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Chemical Concept Demonstrated

Thermoset plastics

Demonstration

Formaldehyde is added to the beaker inside a fume hood.

Aniline hydrochloride (C₆H₅NH₃Cl) is rapidly added.

Observations

The polymer expands out of the beaker, along with a prodigious amount of heat.

Explanation

This reaction is highly exothermic, but that is not why the plastic produced is referred to as "thermoset".

Bakelite is a space-network polymer. Unlike linear and branched polymers, which are composed of long molecules that make them more or less crystalline, space-network polymers are highly and irregularly cross-linked throughout the structure. The sheer extent of the cross-linking means that a sample of the material is essentially one gigantic molecule.

Although heat softens and melts linear and branched polymers, heating does not soften space-network polymers because such a softening would require the breaking of covalent bonds. In fact, heating usually produces additional cross-linking in these polymers, making them harder. It is for this reason that space-network polymers, such as bakelite, are called thermoset plastics.

Chemical Concept Demonstrated

Demonstration

Observations

Explanation

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