Micarta

Description

[International Paper Co.] A registered trademark for a group of laminated plastics. Micarta® was developed by Westinghouse during World War I as a strong, lightweight material for use in airplanes. It is a laminate that uses phenolic or melamine resins to bond multiple sheets of paper or fabric. The paper or fabric can be composed of Cellulose, Fiberglass, Asbestos, or synthetic fibers. The laminates are cured at elevated temperature and pressure. Micarta® is used for large containers, equipment covers, and insulation as well as for interior decorative applications.

Resources and Citations

• Norplex-Micarta: Website (with MSDS sheets)

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 792

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Thomas C. Jester (ed.), Twentieth-Century Building Materials, McGraw-Hill Companies, Washington DC, 1995

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micarta (Accessed Feb. 10, 2006) states developed as early as 1910 ..factory originally near Pittsburgh...move to SC in 1950s ... sold to Nevamar Corp. about 1990...sold to Norplex about 2000