Which material has very good heat resistance, is very dark and hard, and is fairly brittle, used for saucepan handles?

Which material has very good heat resistance, is very dark and hard, and is fairly brittle, used for saucepan handles?

• A. Phenol Formaldehyde
• B. Ceramics
• C. Tungsten Carbide
• D. Glass

Answer: (A)

Phenol-formaldehyde resin (Bakelite) is a thermosetting plastic that, once cured, becomes rigid, dark, and heat resistant. That combination fits saucepan handles well: it won’t soften or deform under the heat of cooking, it provides good insulation so your hand doesn’t get burned, and its hard, brittle nature helps it hold its shape reliably. Other options either aren’t as suitable for handles: ceramics and glass are very heat resistant but extremely brittle and prone to cracking or chipping; tungsten carbide is superbly hard and resistant but costly, brittle, and not a good insulator. Phenol-formaldehyde offers the right balance of heat resistance, nonconductivity, rigidity, and cost for handles.

Phenol-formaldehyde resin (Bakelite) is a thermosetting plastic that, once cured, becomes rigid, dark, and heat resistant. That combination fits saucepan handles well: it won’t soften or deform under the heat of cooking, it provides good insulation so your hand doesn’t get burned, and its hard, brittle nature helps it hold its shape reliably. Other options either aren’t as suitable for handles: ceramics and glass are very heat resistant but extremely brittle and prone to cracking or chipping; tungsten carbide is superbly hard and resistant but costly, brittle, and not a good insulator. Phenol-formaldehyde offers the right balance of heat resistance, nonconductivity, rigidity, and cost for handles.