Definition
A hard, heat-resistant synthetic plastic made from phenol and formaldehyde (a phenolic resin). It is one of the earliest manufactured plastics and is valued in aviation for being a strong electrical insulator that does not soften when heated.
Plain English
An early type of hard plastic that resists heat and electricity. It is used in parts where ordinary plastic would melt or conduct current.
Context Anchor
Seen in descriptions of older aircraft electrical parts, switch housings, knobs, panels, and insulating parts.
Derivation
Named after Leo Baekeland, the Belgian-American chemist who invented the material in 1907. It was the world's first fully synthetic plastic, so the inventor's name became the material's name.
Why Pilots Care
Bakelite parts in older aircraft can become brittle or cracked with age and must be inspected during preflight or maintenance to avoid electrical failures.
Intuition Check
Do not think of Bakelite as soft, flexible modern plastic. In aircraft use, it usually means a hard, heat-resistant insulating material, often found on older components.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic found a cracked Bakelite knob on the magneto switch and ordered a replacement.
Example Sentence 2
Early aircraft radios often used Bakelite knobs because the material resisted heat and wear.