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Casein is a mixture of related phosphoproteins occurring in milk and cheese. It is present as 2.8 grams per 100ml. in cow milk, 2.5 goat, 0.4 human. It contains mainly alpha-Casein (45-55%) molecular weight 23000, beta-Casein (25-35%) MW 24000, and kappa-Casein (8-15%) MW 19000. These huge molecules can be cross-linked using formaldehyde. This diagram illustrates the cross-linking of tiny portions of two casein protein molecules, resulting in casein formaldehyde plastic -
The plastic was developed by the work of three chemists, the Germans Wilhem B. Krische and Adolf Spitteler (trying to develop a whiteboard), and Frenchman Alfred Trillat, who discovered (in 1893) that formaldehyde prevented casein from softening in water. The plastic was marketed as Galalith on the continent and Erinoid in Britain.
Galalith button, RAAF pre 1953
adapted from here
Galalith is discussed in the following 1903 New York Times article -
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A STEAMPUNK NOVEL, FULL OF
ANARCHIC EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE
"Hodges emitted a scream the like of which
I hadn't heard since his scrotum was burned off
Unrelated to this post, below is an example of
eclectic science esoterica
An ampullary bundle with afferent nerve
Julius Lab, UCSF
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