Thiourea formaldehyde resin

Description

An early type of polymer. Thiourea formaldehyde resins were patented in 1923 by Frits Pollack of British Cyanides Co. and later introduced as molding powders in 1928 under the brand names of Beetle and Beatl. These lightweight plastics were made in pastel colors for inexpensive clock cases and radios. Beetle resins were not used for jewelry. These cellulose filled resins were soon superseded by urea formaldehyde resins.

Synonyms and Related Terms

urea resin; thiourea-formaldehyde resins;

Commercial Products: Beetle [American Cyanamid]; Beatl; Beetleware; Plaskon; Duroware; Hemocoware; Uralite

Risks

• Fading, cracking
• Susceptible to insects because of fillers

Resources and Citations

• Care and Identification of Objects Made from Plastic, Conserve O Gram 8/4, National Park Service, September 2010.
• Pam Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002

• Sharon Blank, An introduction to plastics and rubbers in collections, Studies in Conservation, 35, 53-63, 1990