Bakelite or plastic

[lhendri479]

How can I tell the difference between plastic and bakelite?

[Ethel]

This answers your question exactly:

http://tinyurl.com/y3edre

[ianmunt]

Bakelite is a type of plastic,does not melt if heated,is dark coloured and does not burn.
Other materials falling in to the "plastic "category,such as acrylic,polystyrene,polyethylene,nylon etc all melt when heated.They are thermplastic,
Bakelite,like melamine and urea-formaldehyde are thermosetting