bakelite

Bakelite has been widely used both alone, to form whole objects, and in combination with other materials, as a laminate or a surface coating. It was used as a substitute for hard rubber, amber, or celluloid; for insulating electrical apparatus (since it is a nonconductor); and for the manufacture of certain machinery gears, phonograph records, and many other articles useful and ornamental and as diverse in character as buttons, billiard balls, pipestems, and umbrella handles. Bakelite is a condensation polymer of formaldehyde and phenol. In 2003, world production of bakelite was 3.24 million tons which USA accouted for 2.015 million tons, China accouted for 300 thousand tons, Japan accouted for 261 thousand tons. In 2004, the world total consumption of bakelite was 501 thousand tons which 61 thousand tons consumed in USA, 78 thousand tons consumed in Euro and 325 thousand tons consumed in Asia (main in China). It is forecast that world consumption of bakelite would reach to 536 thousand tons in 2007. And China would have a 6％-7％ increase.