Depending on the manufacturer and the type of plastic or resin used, pool balls can have a wide range of designs and colors. The quality of your pool ball is crucial to playing well and for professional players. You can be sure that your balls will last a long time if you purchase high quality ones.
The original pool balls were made of wood. Manufacturers sought out alternatives to make high-quality pool balls as the game developed. In the 17th century pool balls were made from ivory. This material was very popular as it was strong and smooth. It was also a relatively inexpensive material to make. The population of elephants declined in the 19th century. Manufacturers sought other options.
Leo Baekeland an American chemist invented bakelite in 1907. Bakelite became the preferred choice for pool ball balls during the 1920s. Bakelite was more resistant to flames than celluloid balls and also less flammable. It was also easy to make and did not explode. It is a plastic but not the same as modern resins. It is a thermosetting material that can't be melted again.
A plastic mixture of nitrocellulose, alcohol was the next type of pool ball. This plastic is still in use today. It is called phenolic resin. Circuit boards are also made of phenolic resin. This resin is strong and durable, making it a popular material for making pool balls. The resin is used to create pool balls in a way similar to bakelite.
Another plastic that is used for pool balls is polyester. Polyester is much cheaper than phenolic. It does not retain its shine as well as phenolic resin. Polyester is also not very durable. Polyester pool balls tend to be less durable than those made from other materials. They are also less durable than phenolic resin ball.
Saluc, a Belgian company that manufactured pool balls, started production in 1923. Saluc is famous for the brand Aramith, which is the only company that produces pure phenolic resin balls. Aramith balls are made from a mixture of phenolic and bakelite resin. A thermosetting plastic, phenolic resin is durable. It can last up 40 years. It can also be used for volleyball balls, which are durable and can withstand up to 400,000 impacts.
You can also make pool balls from other types of materials. For instance, polyester pool balls are inexpensive, but are not as strong as phenolic resin balls. Polyester pool balls won't last as long as those made from phenolic resin. These pool balls are still affordable and can last for a long time. While phenolic resin pool balls make the best choice for tournaments, they can be quite expensive.