Gum Copal
Gum copal is a natural resinous material of plant Agathis dammara (family Burseraceae). It has been used as a raw material for varnish because it produces glossy films with good weather protection properties. It has been used as pigment binder in varnishes due to the excellent binding properties. It has been mainly used as an emulsifier and stabilizer for the production of colour, paints, printing inks, aromatic emulsions and meat preservatives. Interestingly, Gum Copal was also used as medicine for several different ailments such as in the treatment of burns, headache, nosebleed, fever, stomach ache, and in the preparation of dental products and as remedy for loose teeth and dysentery.
Gum Copal Resin Contains:
- Agathic acid, a diterpenoid and related lobdane compounds along with cis-communic acid, transcommunic acid, polycommunic acid, Sandaracopimaric acid,
- Agathic acid, monomethyl ester of agathalic acid,
- agatholic acid and acetoxy agatholic acid.
- CR obtained from leguminoaceae family contains copalic acid, pimaric acid, isopimaric acid, dehydro-dehydroabietic acid, 86 dehydroabietic acid and abietic acid
Grades of Gum Copal
Grade DBB
- Color Yellow
- Impurities < 2%
- Dried
- Melting Point 90-130 °C
Grade WS
- Color Black
- Impurities < 5%
- Dried
- Melting Point 90-130 °C
Grade Dust
- Color Yellow
- Impurities < 4%
- Dried
- Melting Point 90-130 °C
- Color White, Yellowish, Less Black
- Estimate 30% PWS, 40% DBB,18% Dust, 12% WS
- Impurities < 4 %
- Dried
- Melting Point 90-130 °C