Gutta
Percha
Gutta
percha (GP), also known as balata, is a natural
thermoplastic and is of fundamental importance in
the history of the plastics industry.
This new material
was soon adopted by a vigorous innovative society
and by the time of the Great Exhibition in 1851 a
host of different applications had been found
covering many aspects of Victorian life. The
major use of GP was for the insulation of
submarine cables which revolutionised
communications throughout the world. By the end
of the nineteenth century over a quarter of a
million nautical miles of telegraph cable was in
use. This application was to continue for a total
of 100 years until polythene took its place. A
revolution of a different kind resulted from the
introduction of GP for golf balls in 1848. Until
then feathers encased in leather was used which
was very expensive and quickly became unplayable
in wet weather. Balls made of solid GP had no
such disadvantages and their cheapness and
reliable performance was a major influence in the
vast expansion of the game in subsequent years.
Another innovation, which must have been greeted
with more than usual enthusiasm at a time before
aspirin, was the development, also in 1848, of a
dental stopping compound which is the forerunner
of all temporary filling materials in use today.
These are but three of the hundreds of
applications which were developed in the first
decade. Although GP has been superseded by modern
synthetic materials it still has its uses. The
raw material is now supplied from America (as
balata) where it continues to be used for golf
ball covers. Belting incorporating balata is used
for power transmission, GP tissue is sold for
binding flower stems and even dentists continue
to use it for root filling. The excellent
moulding properties of GP are still exploited for
making replicas of medals and coins and, coloured
red, for seals on official documents in Scotland.
The importance of GP is now much diminished but
its position as the first plastics material
remains secure.
For a more
detailed account click here.
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