Pool balls can come in many different designs and colors depending on their manufacturer and the type and resin of plastic used. The quality of your pool ball is crucial to playing well and for professional players. If you have a set of quality balls, you can expect them to last for a very long time.
The first pool ball was made of wood. Manufacturers sought out alternatives to make high-quality pool balls as the game developed. In 17th-century England, pool balls were made out of ivory. It was popular due to its durability and smoothness. It was also fairly inexpensive to produce. Manufacturers looked for other alternatives as the elephant population declined during the latter part of the 19th Century.
Leo Baekeland an American chemist invented bakelite in 1907. In the 1920s bakelite became a favorite option for pool balls. Compared to celluloid balls, bakelite was less flammable and more durable. It was easy to make and didn't explode. While it is a type plastic, it is not as strong as today's resin. It is a thermosetting plastic that cannot be melted again.
The next pool ball was made from a combination of alcohol and nitrogen. This is the phenolic or phenolic resin. Circuit boards are also made with phenolic. This resin is strong and durable, making it a popular material for making pool balls. The resin is used to create pool balls in a way similar to bakelite.
Polyester is another plastic used to make pool balls. Compared to phenolic resin, polyester is cheaper. It does not retain its shine as well as phenolic resin. Polyester is also not very durable. Pool balls made of polyester tend to wear out more quickly. They are also less durable than phenolic resin ball.
Saluc, an Belgian company, was founded in 1923 to manufacture pool balls. Saluc is well-known for Aramith brand, which is the only company to produce pure phenolic phenolic resin ball. Aramith balls are made from a mixture of phenolic and bakelite resin. Thermosetting plastic, phenolic resin, is very durable. It can last up 40 years. It can be used to make volleyball balls. These are strong and can withstand upto 400,000 impacts.
Apart from the above, pool balls can also be made with other types plastic. While polyester pool balls are cheaper than phenolic, they are less strong than phenolic. In addition, polyester pool balls will not last as long as phenolic resin pool balls. They are however affordable and long-lasting enough to be used by beginners. The best pool balls for tournaments are made of phenolic resin, but they can be expensive.