Does anyone know what billiard balls are made off?

Question

or snooker balls or pool balls or whatever

Answer 1

The earliest balls were made of wood, and later clay (the latter remaining in use well into the 20th century). Ivory was favored for a period, but by the mid-1800s, Elephants were being slaughtered for their ivory at an alarming rate, just to keep up with the demand for billiard balls. No more than eight balls could be made from a single elephant. In an uncommon show of accidental environmentalism, the billiard industry realized that the supply of elephants (their primary source of ivory) was endangered, as well as dangerous to obtain. They challenged inventors to come up with an alternative material that could be manufactured, with a US$10,000 prize from Phelan and Collender of New York City being offered.

In 1869, John Wesley Hyatt invented a composition material called cellulose nitrate for billiard balls (US patent 50359, the first American patent for billiard balls). Although it is unclear if the cash prize was ever awarded to Hyatt, there is no evidence suggesting he did in fact win the prize[1][2]. By 1870 it was commercially branded Celluloid, the first industrial plastic. Unfortunately, the nature of celluloid made it volatile in production, occasionally exploding, which ultimately made this first plastic impractical.

Subsequently, to avoid the problem of celluloid instability, the industry experimented with various other synthetic materials for billiards balls such as Bakelite, Crystalate and other plastic compounds.

The exacting requirements of the billiard ball are met today with balls cast from plastic materials that are strongly resistant to cracking and chipping. Currently Saluc, under the brand names Aramith and Brunswick Centennial, manufactures phenolic resin balls. Other plastics and resins such as polyester (under various trade names) and clear acrylic are also used, by competing companies such as Elephant Balls Ltd., Frenzy Sports, and Vigma.

Answer 2

Dragon got it without the history lesson -Resin plastic

Answer 3

Hi James!, you aren't with that other group are you?.

hope not, the guys that talk about ping pong all the time?.

Alright, hope you like your answers!

.EDIT-I know that some are made of partek resin, and some of the best are made of Phelonic resin.

EDIT-Hey Johnny, ever since the ping pong guys, you don't know who is who ?. I guess that one guy withwrew his question. today.

Answer 4

the majority of english billiard balls are made from crystalite or super crystalite

Answer 5

maybe some type of marbel

Answer 6

Wood. Olden times.

Answer 7

Billiard balls have been made from many different materials since the start of the game, including clay, bakelite, celluloid, crystalite, ivory, plastic, steel and wood.  Today, billiard balls are often made with the thermoset resin Bakelite.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billiards