Gutta-percha
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Gutta-percha is a tree of the genus Palaquium in the family Sapotaceae, which is primarily used to create a high-quality latex of the same name. The material is rigid, naturally biologically inert, resilient, electrically nonconductive, and thermoplastic, most commonly sourced from Palaquium gutta; it is a polymer of isoprene which forms a rubber-like elastomer.
The word "gutta-percha" comes from the plant's name in Malay: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} translates as 'sticky gum' and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) is the name of a less-sought-after gutta tree. The western term therefore is likely a derivative amalgamation of the original native names.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DescriptionEdit
Palaquium gutta trees are Template:Convert tall and up to Template:Convert in trunk diameter. The leaves are evergreen, alternate or spirally arranged, simple, entire, Template:Convert long, glossy green above, and often yellow or glaucous below. The flowers are produced in small clusters along the stems, each flower with a white corolla with four to seven (mostly six) acute lobes. The fruit is an ovoid Template:Convert berry, containing one to four seeds; in many species, the fruit is edible.
In Australia, gutta-percha is a common name specifically used for the euphorbiaceous tree Excoecaria parvifolia, which yields an aromatic, heavy, dark-brown timber.
ChemistryEdit
Chemically, gutta-percha is a polyterpene, a polymer of isoprene, or polyisoprene, specifically (trans-1,4-polyisoprene).<ref name="one">Template:Cite book</ref> The cis structure of polyisoprene is the common latex elastomer.<ref name="one"/> While latex rubbers are amorphous in molecular structure, gutta-percha (the trans structure) crystallizes, leading to a more rigid material. It exists in alpha and beta forms, with the alpha form being brittle at room temperature.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
UsesEdit
HistoricEdit
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Long before gutta-percha was introduced into the Western world, it was used in a less-processed form by the natives of the Malaysian archipelago for making knife handles, walking sticks, and other purposes. The first European to study this material was John Tradescant, who collected it in the far east in 1656. He named this material "Mazer wood". William Montgomerie, a medical officer in imperial service, introduced gutta-percha into practical use in the West. He was the first to appreciate the potential of this material in medicine, and he was awarded the gold medal by the Royal Society of Arts, London in 1843.<ref name=prakesh>Harvey Wickes Felter and John Uri Lloyd. "Gutta-Percha-: An Untold Story. Prakesh et al. ~2001 Endodontology". King's American Dispensatory.</ref>
Scientifically classified in 1843, it was found to be a useful natural thermoplastic. In 1851, Template:Convert of gutta-percha was imported into Britain.<ref name=GPC/> During the second half of the 19th century, gutta-percha was used for many domestic and industrial purposes,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and it became a household word. Gutta-percha was particularly important for the manufacture of underwater telegraph cables.<ref name=GPC>Bill Burns, The Gutta Percha Company, atlantic-cable.com, accessed 6 October 2010.</ref> Compared to rubber, it does not degrade in seawater, is not damaged by marine life, and maintains good electrical insulation.<ref name = "bdm"/> These properties, along with its mouldability and flexibility made it ideal for the purpose, with no other material to match it in the 19th century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The use in electrical cables generated a huge demand which led to unsustainable harvesting and collapse of supply.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
ElectricalEdit
Gutta-percha latex is biologically inert, resilient, and is a good electrical insulator with a high dielectric strength.<ref name = "bdm">Template:Cite book</ref>
Michael Faraday discovered its value as an insulator soon after the introduction of the material to Britain in 1843.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Allowing this fluid to evaporate and coagulate in the sun produced a latex which could be made flexible again with hot water, but which did not become brittle, unlike rubber prior to the discovery of vulcanization.Template:Citation needed
By 1845, telegraph wires insulated with gutta-percha were being manufactured in the UK. It served as the insulating material for early undersea telegraph cables, including the first transatlantic telegraph cable.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The material was a major constituent of Chatterton's compound<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> used as an insulating sealant for telegraph and other electrical cables.Template:Citation needed
The dielectric constant of dried gutta-percha ranges from 2.56 to 3.01. Resistivity of dried gutta-percha ranges from Template:Val to Template:Val. <ref> Template:Cite report</ref>
Since about 1940, polyethylene has supplanted gutta-percha as an electrical insulator.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
OtherEdit
In the mid-19th century, gutta-percha was used to make furniture, notably by the Gutta Percha Company, established in 1847.<ref name=GPC/> Several of these ornate, revival-style pieces were shown at the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London. The company also made a range of utensils.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The "guttie" golf ball (which had a solid gutta-percha core) revolutionized the game.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Gutta-percha was used to make "mourning" jewelry, because it was dark in color and could be easily molded into beads or other shapes.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Pistol hand grips<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and rifle shoulder pads were also made from gutta-percha, since it was hard and durable, though it fell into disuse when synthetic plastics such as Bakelite became available.
Gutta-percha was used in canes and walking sticks. In 1856, United States Representative Preston Brooks used a cane made of gutta-percha as a weapon in his attack on Senator Charles Sumner.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In the 1860s, gutta-percha was used to reinforce the soles of football players' boots before it was banned by The Football Association in the first codified set of rules in 1863.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Gutta-percha was briefly used in bookbinding until the advent of vulcanization.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The wood of many species is also valuable.Template:Citation needed
TodayEdit
ArtEdit
Gutta-percha is used as a resist in silk painting,<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> including some newer forms of batik.
DentistryEdit
The same bioinertness that made it suitable for marine cables also means it does not readily react within the human body. It is used in a variety of surgical devices and during root canal therapy. It is the predominant material used to obturate, or fill, the empty space inside the root of a tooth after it has undergone endodontic therapy. Its physical and chemical properties, including its inertness and biocompatibility, melting point,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> ductility, and malleability, make it important in endodontics,<ref name=prakesh/> e.g., as gutta-percha points. Zinc oxide is added to reduce brittleness and improve plasticity. Barium sulfate is added to provide radiopacity so that its presence and location can be verified in dental X-ray images.
SubstitutesEdit
Gutta-percha remained an industrial staple well into the 20th century, when it was gradually replaced with superior synthetic materials, such as Bakelite.
A similar and cheaper natural material called balatá was often used in gutta-percha's place. The two materials are almost identical, and balatá is often called gutta-balatá.Template:Citation needed
See alsoEdit
- Natural rubber
- Gutta-percha Boy, a 1957 Soviet drama film
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Palaquium
- Gutta-percha on the Transatlantic cable site
- The Gutta Percha Company on the History of the Atlantic Cable site
- Template:Cite book
Template:Endodontology Template:Non-timber forest products Template:Authority control