Galalith

White galalith RAAF pre-1953 buttons. (Top left button shows crazing resulting from button having been heated during washing.)
Chemical reaction of two proteins (top) with formaldehyde (H2CO) – schematic presentation.
Comb made from Galalith resembling ivory

Galalith (Erinoid in the United Kingdom) is a synthetic plastic material manufactured by the interaction of casein and formaldehyde. The commercial name is derived from the Ancient Greek words gala (γάλα, "milk") and lithos (λῐ́θος, "stone"). It is odourless, insoluble in water, biodegradable, non-allergenic, antistatic and virtually nonflammable. It was produced under other names such as aladdinite (in the US), Casolith (in the Netherlands) and lactoloid (in Japan).[1]

  1. ^ Robinson, R. (6 December 2012). Robinson: Modern Dairy Technology: Volume 1 Advances in Milk Processing. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 405. ISBN 9781461520573.