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STUDIES ELECTROCHEMISTRY:
At this time Baekeland became interested in electrochemistry.
This was because he saw that electochemistry, which in his student days had been limited to the electro deposition of a few
metals from aqueous solution, had since that time become an important branch of chemical industry. It was then being put to
such uses as separating aluminium from bauxite, producing carborundum and graphite, making calcium carbide, manufacturing
sodium, and simplifying the preparation of important compounds of that metal, such as sodium cyanide. Because of his interest
in these developments, Baekeland decided in 1900 to visit Germany for what he called a "refresher" in the science of electrochemistry.
He spent a winter there in the electrochemical laboratory of the Technological Institute of Charlottenburg brushing up on
his knowledge of the subject. And when he returned to Yonkers he fitted his laboratory with electrochemical equipment for
further study.
It was about that time that Clinton P. Townsend invented his electrolytic cell for producing caustic
soda and chlorine from salt. And Baekeland was asked by Elon H.Hooker to undertake an investigation of the Townsend electrolytic
cell, preliminary to it's application on an industrial scale. This Baekeland did in company with the inventor and several
other persons skilled in electrolysis. An important one of Baekeland's contributions to the Townsend cell at that time was
an improved diaphragm of much greater durability than had been available before. That work led to two of the earlist of the
many patents which Baekeland took out, and to the formation in 1903 of the Hooker Electrochemical Company and the erection
at Niagara Falls of one of the largest electrochemical plants in the world. For several years afterwards Baekeland continued
to be connected with that company in a consulting capacity. In his work on the Townsend cell which preceded the building of
the Hooker plant at Niagara Falls, Baekeland constructed two full size elecrolytic cells embodying the improvements made by
his group; and these he operated under varying conditions, day and night, for months. With the further knowledge thus gained,
the specifications for the full sized plant were drawn. But even that plant was not built in full first, only the smallest
section that could be poerated. Thus, by this careful step-wise procedure,involving an expenditure of only $300,000, as Baekeland
said later,blunders that might have cost millions were prevented. And that experience gave rise to the maxim of Baekeland's
which has been widely quoted: "Commit your blunders on a small scale and make your profits on a large scale."
DEVELOPS
"BAKELITE" PHENOLIC :
Baekeland then turned his attention to the subject upon which his greatest fame rests - the
research which pioneered the important plastics industry. By finding how to direct the action of formaldehyde upon phenols
in proper channels, he gave the world an important new material which was named and trade marked "Bakelite." The condensation
of aldehydes with the phenold was not a new reaction at all. It had been known for twenty years, or ever since the work of
Adolph Bayer in 1872. But the condensation of formaldehyde with phenol does not of itself give "Bakelite" phenolic. Even when
the reaction yielded a resin, it was one that had no special utility. Only under the very special conditions established by
the long researches of Baekeland is a product of the amberlike and highly resistant properties of "Bakelite" phenolic produced.
Nor was Baekeland the first investigator who had tried to obtain that result. Years afterwards Baekeland said of those earlier
workers, "They should have succeeded, but they wouldn't." What he did not say was that it was only after five years of the
most intensive effort, and after many failures and disappointments, that he himself succeeded.
But, as a result of a long and systematic investigation, in which he tried to study all factors
of the reaction between formaldehyde and phenol, Baekeland found that he could dissect the reaction or separate it into different
steps. He found that pressure was valuable in controlling the reaction, and that by the presence of ammonia or other
base he could spread the reaction out over a longer period and so could stop it at any stage he wished by cooling. He found
that he could thus control the reaction in steps, and use was made of that fortunate circumstance in finishing the new product
"Bakelite" phenolic to those who had use for it.
In respect to making the new material available commercially to those who had need of it, Baekeland
said this - " I firmly intended to escape the recurrence of business occupations, as in my Velox days. So I planned,
instead of manufacturing myself, to grant licenses to established manufacturing concerns, especially experienced in plastics.
But I was soon confronted with a repetition of my former experience with Velox. that it was very difficult to teach new methods
to men who had acquired routine in older processes. The preparation of the new resinoid and it's molding compositions, which
to me seemed very simple, appeared either very difficult or needlessly complicated to others. Reluctantly I had to start
manufacturing the raw materials in a sufficiently advanced stage so that the users had only to complete the operation of molding
and polymerization."
The "Bakelite" resin, as thus produced for distribution to the trade, would soften on heating and
it could be dissolved, but, on further heating, it set into a permanently hard and insoluble substance, which was strong,
which had excellent insulating properties. and which was resistant to heat and to many chemicals. The material thus found
many important uses, chiefly at first in replacing hard rubber and amber in electricity and industrial arts at places where
those materials were not satisfactory. In my own case, for instance, as a maker of ignition systems for automobiles
at that time, " Bakelite " phenolic served a very useful purpose indeed in respect to such vital parts as distributor heads.
The hard rubber, which, before " Bakelite " phenolic became available, had had to be used for molding distributor heads, gave
trouble whenever conditions were such that it got hot. But distributor heads molded out of this phenolic were strong
and altogether free from troubles due to temperature.
FOUNDS GENERAL BAKELITE COMPANY -
The early manufacture in connection with the commercialization of " Bakelite " phenolic was done
in Yonkers. But in 1910 a company called the General Bakelite Company ( later the Bakelite Corporation ) was organised
to manufacture and distribute the raw materials for making phenolic parts, and a factory was then established at Perth Ambcy,
N.J. Baekeland served as president and moving spirit of that company from the time of its organization until in 1939
it was merged with the Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation ( Now the Union Carbide Corporation ). Nevertheless, by intelligent
organization and by careful selection of associates, Baekeland was able to keep free enough from routine and business entanglements
so that he could maintain his interest in research, and could still devote some time to it, as well as to the numerous scientific,
patriotic, and educational calls which were made upon him.
Now click onto Baekeland Memoirs page 3, below
Baekeland Memoirs page 3 ...
IT'S BAKELITE YOU KNOW !!!! ( WWW.BAKELITEMAN.COM )
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