Tenite is a brand of

cellulosic Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important structural component of the primary cell wa ...

thermoplastic A thermoplastic, or thermosoft plastic, is any plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight. The polymer chains associate ...

materials produced by the

Eastman Chemical Company Eastman Chemical Company is an American company primarily involved in the chemical industry. Once a subsidiary of Kodak, today it is an independent global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of advanced materials, chemicals and ...

. Created in 1929, and trademarked in 1932, Tenite has been used in a wide variety of consumer, industrial, architectural and medical applications. Tenite cellulosics are manufactured from renewable raw materials (soft woods); they exhibit many of the same tactile and finish properties as wood, yet can easily be molded and extruded. Historically, applications for Tenite have varied from radios and telephones, to toys, toothbrushes and eyeglass frames. Tenite is not a durable plastic. Objects manufactured from Tenite slowly deform and warp over decades eventually rendering the products unusable. Some formulations of Tenite are susceptible to surface mold.

History

In 1920,

George Eastman George Eastman (July 12, 1854March 14, 1932) was an American entrepreneur who founded the Kodak, Eastman Kodak Company and helped to bring the photographic use of roll film into the mainstream. He was a major philanthropist, establishing the ...

established the site that would later become the headquarters for Eastman Chemical to provide a reliable domestic supply of compounds for Kodak's photographic processes. With the company's knowledge of acetyl chemistry for film production, Tennessee Eastman developed compounded cellulose acetate in 1929, which was sold under the Tenite cellulosics trade mark. Over the next few decades new versions of Tenite were developed from mixed esters to meet a wider range of market requirements.

Production

Tenite cellulosics are prepared from

cellulose acetate In biochemistry, cellulose acetate refers to any acetate ester of cellulose, usually cellulose diacetate. It was first prepared in 1865. A bioplastic, cellulose acetate is used as a film base in photography, as a component in some coatings, and ...

and its esters, and distributed as Tenite Acetate, Tenite Butyrate, and Tenite Propionate. Its mechanical, thermal, electrical, and optical properties may be tuned greatly with varying levels of plasticizers. Colorants are added for colored products. The material is processed into pellets for distribution. Downstream manufacturers mold or extrude the pellets into applications from eyeglass frames, tool handles and gun stocks to playing cards and casino dice. Prior to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, Tenite was used by most American automakers to fashion steering wheels, dashboards, knobs, and handles. During the war, Tenite was used to manufacture a wide range of military equipment, including weaponry, medical devices, musical instruments, indicator lights, and other uses.

Decay and Preservation Issues

Among the various uses for Tenite plastic included film reels for Kodak home movie stock. Film preservationists are discovering home movie reels made of Tenite that are decaying rapidly, with white powdery flakes covering the plastic surface. Not to be mistaken for

mold A mold () or mould () is one of the structures certain fungus, fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of Spore#Fungi, spores containing Secondary metabolite#Fungal secondary metabolites, fungal seco ...

, the powder from Tenite decay is considered hazardous and proper gear such as nitrile gloves are recommended for handling. Some film preservationists have claimed that working with this decaying plastic has caused "problems with their eyes, nose, throat and lungs despite taking appropriate handling precautions." In order to prevent decay and prolong the life of Tenite materials, the

National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...

recommends these items be stored with a "stable temperature below 68° F; stable RH between 30%-40%. Well ventilate, segregate; use gas adsorbents if stored in closed container."

References

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External links

Eastman Chemical Company History , Kingsport TN

Newsfilm, Tenite, Home Movies, and More: An Interview with Margie Compton

Care and Identification of Objects Made from Plastic
Thermoplastics