Pool balls can come in many different designs and colors depending on their manufacturer and the type and resin of plastic used. Quality pool balls can make a difference in your game of pool and professional skills. You can count on your quality balls to last a long time.
The original pool balls were made from wood. As the game evolved over time, the ball manufacturers looked for alternatives to wood. In the 17th century, pool balls were made of ivory, which was popular because it was sturdy and smooth. It was also a relatively inexpensive material to make. The population of elephants declined in the 19th century. Manufacturers sought other options.
Leo Baekeland (an American chemist) created a new type of plastic in 1907. Bakelite became the preferred choice for pool ball balls during the 1920s. Bakelite is less flammable than celluloid and has a longer life span. It was also easy to make and did not explode. Although it is a type of plastic, it is not the same as the resin used today. It is a thermosetting resin that cannot be melted.
A plastic mixture of nitrocellulose, alcohol was the next type of pool ball. This material is still in use today and is known as phenolic resin. Phenolic resin is also used for circuit boards. The resin is strong and robust, making it the preferred material for pool balls. The resin is used to make pool balls in a process similar to that of bakelite.
Another plastic that is used for pool balls is polyester. Compared to phenolic resin, polyester is cheaper. However, it does not maintain its shine for as long as phenolic resin. In addition, polyester is not very durable. Polyester pool balls are more susceptible to deterioration. In addition, they do not last as long as phenolic resin balls.
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 contain a mix of bakelite, phenolic, and phenolic ingredients. A thermosetting plastic, phenolic resin is durable. It can be used for up to 40 year. It can also be used to make volleyball ball, which can withstand upto 400 000 impacts.
In addition to the above, there are other types of plastic that are used to make pool balls. Polyester pool balls may be more affordable than phenolic balls but they aren't as strong. Also, polyester pool balls are not as durable as phenolic pool balls. These pool balls are still affordable and can last for a long time. For a tournament, phenolic resin pool balls are the best choice, but they are not cheap.