Difference between revisions of "Casein plastic"

From CAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
A plastic prepared from [[casein]], a natural [[phosphorus]]-containing protein found in [[milk]]. While trying to make a waterproof coating in 1897, Adolph Spitteler and associate W. Krische of Germany discovered that casein becomes hard and insoluble when treated with [[formaldehyde]]. Casein plastics were used for small items such as buttons, beads, buckles, combs, necklaces, fountain pens, umbrella handles, cutlery handles, and knitting needles. Casein plastics were often pigmented to simulate [[ivory]], [[horn]], [[jade]], [[pearl]], and [[tortoiseshell]].  In the 1930s, an Italian chemist, Antonio Ferretti developed a successful method to make casein plastic into fibers (see [[Azlon]],[[Lanital]]).
+
A plastic prepared from [[casein]], a natural [[phosphorus]]-containing protein found in [[milk]]. While trying to make a waterproof coating in 1897, Adolph Spitteler and associate W. Krische of Germany discovered that casein becomes hard and insoluble when treated with [[formaldehyde]]. This process, however, is slow and can take up to a year for a 2.5 cm thick sheet to be produced. The resultant plastic was cut, then molded into limited shapes by hot stamping. Casein plastics were used for small items such as buttons, beads, buckles, combs, necklaces, fountain pens, umbrella handles, cutlery handles, and knitting needles. Casein plastics were often pigmented to simulate [[ivory]], [[horn]], [[jade]], [[pearl]], and [[tortoiseshell]].  In the 1930s, an Italian chemist, Antonio Ferretti developed a successful method to make casein plastic into fibers (see [[Azlon fiber]], [[Lanital]]).
  
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|Casein plastic FTIR.PNG~FTIR]]]
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|Casein plastic FTIR.PNG~FTIR]]]
 +
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
+
casein formaldehyde; milkstone; artificial horn; plástico con base de caseína (Esp.); plastique à base de caséine (Fr.); Galalith (Deut.); Galalite (It.); Erinoid (Br.); Syrolit (Ire.);
 +
 
 +
Commercial products: Galalith (France 1900, then Germany 1904); Syrolit (England 1909-1913); Erinoid (England 1914-1980); Aladdinite (U.S. in 1919); Lactoid (England 1922-1962); Karolith (US 1924-1931); Dorcasine (England 1930); Ameroid (1931 US); Kyloid; Casolith; Galorn; Lanital (fiber)
 +
== Risks ==
  
casein formaldehyde; milkstone; plástico con base de caseína (Esp.); plastique à base de caséine (Fr.); Lactoid (England in 1904); Aladdinite (U.S. in 1919); Galalith (Deut.); Galalite (It.); Erinoid (Br.); Syrolit (Ire.); Karolith; Kyloid; Ameroid; Dorcasine; Casolith; Lanital (fiber)
+
* Contact with water, acids or alkalis may cause crazing.  
 +
* Susceptible to biological attack.
 +
* Burns slowly and brightly in air, but extinguishes with removal of flame source.
  
== Other Properties ==
+
== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
  
 
Insoluble in water, acid   
 
Insoluble in water, acid   
  
 
Burns with odor of burnt hair.
 
Burns with odor of burnt hair.
 
== Hazards and Safety ==
 
 
Contact with water, acids or alkalis may cause crazing. 
 
 
Susceptible to biological attack. 
 
 
Burns slowly and brightly in air, but extinguishes with removal of flame source.
 
  
 
== Comparisons ==
 
== Comparisons ==
Line 29: Line 27:
 
[[media:download_file_311.pdf|Physical Properties for Selected Thermoset Resins]]
 
[[media:download_file_311.pdf|Physical Properties for Selected Thermoset Resins]]
  
 
+
== Resources and Citations ==
 
+
* [https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/08-04.pdf Care and Identification of Objects Made from Plastic], Conserve O Gram 8/4, National Park Service, September 2010.
== Sources Checked for Data in Record ==
+
* Plastics Historical Society at http://plastiquarian.com/?page_id=14228
  
 
* Pam Hatchfield, ''Pollutants in the Museum Environment'', Archetype Press, London, 2002
 
* Pam Hatchfield, ''Pollutants in the Museum Environment'', Archetype Press, London, 2002
Line 37: Line 35:
 
* M.Kaufman, ''The First Century of Plastics'', The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963  Comment: gives 1897 as discovery, 1899 as German patent and 1900 as U.S. patent
 
* M.Kaufman, ''The First Century of Plastics'', The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963  Comment: gives 1897 as discovery, 1899 as German patent and 1900 as U.S. patent
  
* Website address 1  Comment: www.me.umist.ac.uk.historyp - first made in 1897..by Krische and Spitteler
+
* Website: www.me.umist.ac.uk.historyp - first made in 1897..by Krische and Spitteler
  
* Website address 2  Comment: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html - discovered in 1897
+
* History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html - discovered in 1897
  
 
* ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996  Comment: "Plastics"
 
* ''The Dictionary of Art'', Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996  Comment: "Plastics"
  
* F. Kidd, ''Brushmaking Materials'', Bristish Brush Manufacturers, London, 1957
+
* F. Kidd, ''Brushmaking Materials'', British Brush Manufacturers, London, 1957
  
 
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
 
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000

Latest revision as of 13:22, 6 December 2020

Description

A plastic prepared from Casein, a natural Phosphorus-containing protein found in Milk. While trying to make a waterproof coating in 1897, Adolph Spitteler and associate W. Krische of Germany discovered that casein becomes hard and insoluble when treated with Formaldehyde. This process, however, is slow and can take up to a year for a 2.5 cm thick sheet to be produced. The resultant plastic was cut, then molded into limited shapes by hot stamping. Casein plastics were used for small items such as buttons, beads, buckles, combs, necklaces, fountain pens, umbrella handles, cutlery handles, and knitting needles. Casein plastics were often pigmented to simulate Ivory, Horn, Jade, Pearl, and Tortoiseshell. In the 1930s, an Italian chemist, Antonio Ferretti developed a successful method to make casein plastic into fibers (see Azlon fiber, Lanital).

FTIR

Casein plastic FTIR.PNG

Synonyms and Related Terms

casein formaldehyde; milkstone; artificial horn; plástico con base de caseína (Esp.); plastique à base de caséine (Fr.); Galalith (Deut.); Galalite (It.); Erinoid (Br.); Syrolit (Ire.);

Commercial products: Galalith (France 1900, then Germany 1904); Syrolit (England 1909-1913); Erinoid (England 1914-1980); Aladdinite (U.S. in 1919); Lactoid (England 1922-1962); Karolith (US 1924-1931); Dorcasine (England 1930); Ameroid (1931 US); Kyloid; Casolith; Galorn; Lanital (fiber)

Risks

  • Contact with water, acids or alkalis may cause crazing.
  • Susceptible to biological attack.
  • Burns slowly and brightly in air, but extinguishes with removal of flame source.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Insoluble in water, acid

Burns with odor of burnt hair.

Comparisons

General Characteristics of Polymers

Physical Properties for Selected Thermoset Resins

Resources and Citations

  • Pam Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002
  • M.Kaufman, The First Century of Plastics, The Plastics and Rubber Institute, London, 1963 Comment: gives 1897 as discovery, 1899 as German patent and 1900 as U.S. patent
  • Website: www.me.umist.ac.uk.historyp - first made in 1897..by Krische and Spitteler
  • History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html - discovered in 1897
  • The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: "Plastics"
  • F. Kidd, Brushmaking Materials, British Brush Manufacturers, London, 1957