Why is Bakelite no longer used?

Bakelite is no longer widely used because it has several limitations compared to modern plastics and newer materials have replaced it for most applications. Bakelite, invented in 1907 as first fully synthetic plastic, is a phenol formaldehyde thermoset plastic that is hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and electrically insulating, which made it popular for electrical switches, radios, and kitchenware in early 20th century. However, Bakelite has disadvantages, it is brittle and can crack and shatter, it is not flexible, it comes in limited dark colors, mostly brown and black, because phenol formaldehyde is naturally dark, so it cannot make bright or clear products, and it cannot be melted and remolded once set because it is thermoset, making recycling difficult. Modern plastics like polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, nylon, and ABS are cheaper to produce, lighter, more flexible, can be made in any color including transparent, are easier to injection mold at lower temperatures, and can be recycled in some cases. Bakelite also requires high heat and pressure to mold, increasing production cost. While still used in some specialized applications like electrical insulators, brake pads, and vintage-style products, it has been largely replaced by modern thermoplastics that are more versatile and economical.