Bakelite

The diphenylamine test referred to by Barbara Brown will not work
for bakelite.  Bakelite is a phenol-formaldehyde resin and the
diphenylamine test is for detecting nitrates, i.e. cellulose nitrate
(aka celluloid, nitrocellulose, Parkesite, Ambroid, etc.).

Stephen Koob
Department of Conservation and Scientific Research
Freer Gallery of Art
Smithsonian Institution
Washington DC 20560
202-357-4880 x276

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 9:15
                  Distributed: Friday, August 4, 1995
                        Message Id: cdl-9-15-004
                                  ***