Acronym and details: milk curds hardened with formaldehyde
Group: thermoset (but can also be thermoplastic to a certain extent)
Developed: patented 1899; little used since the1980s
Trade names: Lactoid, Erinoid, Galalith
Manufacturing process: extrusion; fabrication, usually machined to shape from sheet, rod or block; textures achieved by laminating sheet on sheet
Cost: medium
Colour: any, including mottles, pearls and special effects
Transparency: usually opaque but some translucency when imitating tortoiseshell, horn and all the many decorative affects that could be achieved
Rigidity: firm but can flex
Feel: hard
Smell: occasionally of the formaldehyde used in its production
Other: accepts surface dyeing; polishes to a brilliant lustre
Typical uses: buttons, knitting needles, fountain pens, jewellery, dressing table sets, manicure sets,inlay in furniture
Degradation: Surface crazes and cracks