Galalith: Difference between revisions

Galalith (Erinoid in the United Kingdom), is a synthetic plastic material manufactured by the interaction of casein and formaldehyde. Given a commercial name derived from the Greek words gala (milk) and lithos (stone), it is odourless, insoluble in water, biodegradable, antiallergenic, antistatic and virtually inflammable.

Discovery

In 1897, the Hanover, Germany mass printing press owner Wilhelm Krische was commissioned to develop white school boards that could be wiped off but that would not burn, as German teachers no longer wanted to write on blackboards using white chalk.^[1] The resultant horn-like plastic made from the milk protein casein, was developed in cooperation with the Austrian chemist (Friedrich) Adolph Spitteler (1846 - 1940). Although the final result was unsuitable for the original purpose, at the beginning of the 20th century, French chemist J.C. Trillat, discovered the means to insolubilize casein by immersion in formaldehyde.^[1]

Production and usage

Although it could not be moulded once set, and was hence produced in sheets, it was inexpensive to produce due to its simple manufacture. Galalith could be cut, drilled, embossed and dyed without difficulty, and its structure manipulated to create a series of effects. No other plastic at the time could compete on price, and with ivory, horn and bone products becoming far more expensive, it found a natural home in the fashion industry.^[1]

This new plastic was presented at Paris Universal Exhibition in 1900. In France, Galalith was distributed by the 'Compagnie Française de Galalithe located near Paris in Levallois-Perret. As a result, the Jura area became the first one to use the material, resulting in the revolution of the button industry,^[2] with its capacity to create structural effects and imitate all sorts of material, including ivory, horn, tortoiseshell and wood.

Marketed in the form of boards, pipes and rods, in 1913 30,000,000 litres (7,900,000 US gal) of milk were used to produce Galalith in Germany alone.^[1] In 1914, Syrolit Ltd gained the license for manufacture in the United Kingdom. Renaming itself Erinoid Ltd, it started manufacture in the Lightpill former woollen mill in Dudbridge, Stroud, Gloucestershire.^[3]

Galalith could produce gemstone imitations that looked strikingly real. In 1926 Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel published a picture of a short, simple black dress in Vogue. It was calf-length, straight, and decorated only by a few diagonal lines. Vogue called it "Chanel’s Ford,” as like the Model T, the little black dress was simple and accessible for women of all social classes. To accessorize the LBD, Channel revamped her designs, thus facilitating the breakthrough and mass popularity of costume jewelry.^[1] By the 1930s, Galaith was also used for pens, umbrella handles, white piano keys (replacing natural ivory), and electrical goods,^[4] with world production at that time reached 10,000 tons.

Today

Although Galaith was historically cheap, the fact it could not be moulded led to its demise by commercial end users. Production slowed as the restrictions of World War Two led to a need for milk as a food, and niched due to new oil derived war time plastic developments. Production continued in Brazil until the 1960s.

Although today formaldehyde is now recognised for its carciogenic properties, Galaith made from milk and vinegar can easily be produced by home crafters.

References

External links

• Morrell, George (1935). ""Method of making casein buttons"". Sampling One Hundred Years of Button Patents. Georgia, USA: Peach State Button Club. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
• Homemade Galaith - for crafting or costume jewelry