{{Short description|Highly durable synthetic resin}} {{other uses}} {{more citations needed|date=March 2018}} [[File:Durium Jr Record.JPG|thumb|A record made of Durium]]
'''Durium''' is a highly durable [[synthetic resin]] developed in 1929. It was used in phonograph records, as well as in the casting process for [[Movable type|metallic type]] and in the aeronautics industry.
==Origin== It is a [[resorcinol]]-[[formaldehyde]] resin, the result of research by Hal T. Beans, professor of chemistry at [[Columbia University]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1930/01/04/archives/unbreakable-disks-made-of-new-resin-phonograph-records-flexible-and.html|title=Unbreakable Disks Made of New Resin; Phonograph Records, Flexible and Cheap, Use Durium, Product of Dr. H.T. Beans. Unhurt by Hammer Blows: Compound Which Withstands Heat of Molten Lead Expected to Find Many Industrial Uses|date=January 4, 1930|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref>
==Properties== The resin is flexible, tasteless, odorless, fire and waterproof. It is highly resistant to heat and was heated to {{convert|230|C|F}} in production of records. It is fast-setting, reducing the production cost of items made from it.
==Applications== Being resistant to fire and water, the resin was used as a substitute for varnish on aeronautical parts.
It was commercialized by Durium Products Company (renamed Durium Products, Inc., from 1931) as the medium for [[Hit of the Week]] records, from 1930 to 1932. The resin was bonded to a cardboard substrate and, being much lighter than its competitor [[shellac]], was sold at newsstands for only 15 cents per disc.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,738695,00.html|title=Science: Durium Records|date=February 17, 1930|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref> == See also ==
* [[Durium Records (UK)]]
==References== {{reflist}}
[[Category:Synthetic resins]]