Galalith

Galaris (elinoids in the UK) is a synthetic plastic material produced by the interaction of casein and formaldehyde.

The product name comes from the ancient Greek words gala (γάλα, "milk") and lithos (λῐ́θος, "stone"). It is odorless and water-soluble, biodegradable, non-allergenic, antistatic, and substantially non-flammable.

●Discovery
In 1893, the French chemist Auguste Trillat discovered a way to insolubilize casein (to turn liquids, especially water-soluble substances) by soaking it in formaldehyde.

In 1897, Hanover printer Wilhelm Kreischer was commissioned to develop a white, non-flammable, erasable chalkboard. He was reluctant to attach the casein to cardboard, and sought help from German chemist (Friedrich) Adolf Spitterer (1846-1940). The finished corner-like plastic was not suitable for its original purpose, but it was soon discovered for other uses.

●Manufacturing and use
Once the gallaris hardens, it cannot be molded, so it is necessary to process it into a sheet form, but it has the advantage that it can be manufactured at a low cost. Cutting, drilling, embossing and dyeing was easy, and the structure could be manipulated to produce a variety of effects. However, other plastics at the time were not worth competing in terms of price, and ivory, horns and bone products were becoming much more expensive, making them a natural home in the fashion industry.

The new plastic was presented at the 1900 Paris World's Fair. In France, Gallaris was sold by Compagnie Française de Galalithe, located in Levallois-Perret, near Paris. As a result, the Jura region was the first to use this material.

The gallaris was sold in plate-shaped, pipe-shaped, and rod-shaped shapes. In 1913, 30 million liters (8 million US gallons) of milk were used in Germany alone to manufacture Gallaris. In 1914, Shirolitt acquired a manufacturing license in the UK. Casein from rennet produces superior plastics than acid-precipitated casein.