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 <center>'''COPALGUTTA PERCHA'''</center>GUTTA PERCHA == DESCRIPTION AND USES==Gutta percha is the coagulum produced from the latex of certain trees of the Sapotaceaefamily indigenous to Southeast Asia, particularly those found in the Malay and Indonesianarchipelagos. In contrast to rubber, which is an elastic material, gutta percha is non-elastic; it becomesplastic when heated but retains its shape when cooled. The differences between the twomaterials arise from their different chemical compositions: rubber and gutta percha bothcontain a large proportion of the polymeric hydrocarbon polyisoprene, but in the former itis the ''cis '' isomer while in the latter it is the ''trans '' isomer. The presence of trans polyisoprenein balata-like materials originating from tropical America is referred to elsewhere ([[Balata (FAO, NWFP 6)|BALATA]] and [[Maçaranduba (FAO, NWFP 6)|MAÇARANDUBA), and confers on them their non-elastic properties. Towards the middle of the last century it was discovered that gutta percha had excellentinsulating properties which were retained under water, and its most important use was inproviding the insulating material for submarine and underground cables. It was also used (aswas balata) for the manufacture of golf ball covers and other moulded products. However,the advent of synthetic resins and other, petroleum-based polymeric materials led to the rapiddecline in use of the natural material. == WORLD SUPPLY AND DEMAND TRENDS===== Markets===Average annual world consumption of gutta percha in the early part of the century (40 yearsup to 1936) has been stated to be approximately 850 tonnes, of which about 450 tormes wereused for submarine cables, 300-400 tonnes for the manufacture of golf balls, and theremainder for miscellaneous industries such as machine belting (READER, 1953).LOCKHART-SMITH (1972), on the other hand, states that exports of gutta percha andinferior guttas from Singapore averaged nearly 14 000 tornes tonnes annually between 1900 and1920. By the 1960s/1970s, golf ball manufacture was the only significant end use for guttapercha (and balata). In the 1960s, the United States was by far the largest importer of gutta percha; averageannual imports from Indonesia over the 10 years 1963-72 were 1 140 tonnes (LOCKHARTSMITH,1972). Recent US data are not available.It is not easy to draw conclusions about present day consumption of gutta percha on the basisof trade statistics alone. Gutta percha is not always disaggregated from other non-elasticgums, and although an attempt has been made to do this in the case of recent imports intoJapan of "chicle, balata, gutta percha and guayule" [[Chicle (FAO, NWFP 6)|(Table 32)]], the average annual figure ofabout 970 tonnes for assumed gutta percha imported from Indonesia is much greater than totalrecorded exports of gutta percha out of Indonesia for the same period (Table 35, annualaverage 190 tonnes). Furthermore, of these total exports, only 6 tonnes (in 1993) wentdirectly to Japan.

=== Supply sources===In past years, Indonesia and Malaysia have been the dominant producers of gutta percha, withminor quantities coming from Thailand and a few other countries in the region. Singaporeis often the first destination for exports, which are then re-exported to end-user countries. Indonesia is believed to be the largest producer and exporter of gutta percha today, althoughit is not clear whether the quantities given in Table 35 are a true reflection of the size of thistrade. === Quality and prices===The quality of gutta percha, both in its crude and processed form, depends largely on itshydocarbon (gutta) content, since it is this that confers on gutta percha its thermo-plasticproperties. Most of the remaining material is "resin". Gutta percha which has been extractedfrom leaves by non-solvent methods (see VALUE-ADDED PROCESSING below) containsaround 70-75% hydrocarbon and 6-10% resin; the balance is moisture and a few per centof solid impurities. Fully refined, solvent-extracted gutta percha ("white gutta") contains lessthan 1% resin. FOB export values for gutta percha of Indonesian origin have been quite steady for the lastthree years of data (1991-93): approximately US$ 1 200/tonne. In 1990 it was aboutUS$ 1 900/tonne. == PLANT SOURCES===== Botanical names===

*''[[Palaquium gutta ]]'' (Hk. f.) BaillonOther ''Palaquium '' spp., including P. ''[[Palaquium obovatum ]]'' (Griffith) Engler, P. ''[[Palaquium oblongifolium]]'',P. ''[[Palaquium oxleyanum ]]'' Pierre and P. ''[[Palaquium treubii]]''.*''[[Payena leerii ]]'' (Teys. et Binn.) Kurz === Description and distribution===''Palaquium '' species are medium to very tall trees. P. ''Palaquium gutta '' is a medium tree, up to 25 m inheight and 1.5 m in girth, with small buttresses. ''Payena leerii '' grows up to 40 m high. The main gutta percha-yielding trees are found in Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly theislands of Sumatra and Borneo and smaller surrounding ones. However, they occur as farnorth as the Philippines and mainland Southeast Asia, and as far east as Papua New Guinea.Pala quium ''Palaquium'' species are amenable to cultivation and plantations were established in Java forgutta percha production as early as the 1890s. Commercial plantations were also beingworked in Malaysia in the 1950s, but the last of these ceased operation in 1967.LOCKHART-SMITH (1972) reported that the plantation at Cipetir, West Java, was the onlyactive one in the early 1970s; its status today is not known. Although P. ''Palaquium gutta '' produces thehighest quality gutta percha, P. ''Palaquium oblongifolium '' is the species most suited to planting.

== COLLECTION/PRIMARY PROCESSING==In the early 1900s, when demand for gutta percha was at its greatest, collection of the latexfrom wild trees was entirely by destructive means, so as to obtain as much as possible: thetree was felled, the branches lopped off, and a number of wide cuts made through the barkat intervals along the trunk. When it became clear that this was leading to significant lossesof forest, such methods were banned and techniques for tapping the living tree weredeveloped. Usually these methods entailed making a series of V-shaped cuts in the bark of the tree about20-30 cm apart, with a central, vertical channel. Most of the latex coagulated in the cuts andwas collected by rolling it into small balls along the cuts; the remainder flowed into smallcups fixed to the tree. A rest period of at least two years was said to be necessary betweensuccessive tappings to keep the tree economically productive. Unlike rubber trees, whichcontain laticiferous tubes in the bark, Pala quium ''Palaquium'' spp contain irregular cavities which are notconnected, and tapping cannot be done in a manner similar to that for rubber. In plantations, extraction of gutta percha from the leaves of the trees is more productive thancollection of latex by tapping. Harvesting is done partly by plucking (about four times ayear) and partly by collecting prunings (which comprise leaves, twigs and small branches). Primary processing of the latex entails pressing the partially formed coagulum into blocksafter first softening it in hot water and removing larger pieces of foreign matter. The blocksare then transported to the factory for further processing; if they need to be stored for anylength of time before transportation they are best kept under water to avoid spoilage by aerialoxidation. Extraction of the gutta percha from leaves is briefly described under VALUE-ADDEDPROCESSING, since some aspects of it are similar to methods used for further processingof the crude gutta percha blocks. === Yields===Tapping yields of latex depend on both genetic and environmental factors, as well as the partof the tree which is tapped. In P. oblingifolium''Palaquium oblongifolium'', for example, the latex hardens after a fewminutes of exposure to the air, and the yield is considerably lower than that from P.''Palaquium obovatum''. Cloudy, moist conditions allow the latex to flow more easily than during hot,sunny periods, when there is some loss of water by evaporation. Higher yields are alsoobtained from the upper portion of the trunk and branches than from the lower part. Yieldsof gutta percha per tree are also very variable, but about 1.5 kg has been stated to be a goodaverage. The gutta percha content of leaves increases with the age of the leaf: results reported in theolder literature state about 3% (dry basis) in young leaves, 8% in medium-aged leaves and10% in old leaves. == VALUE-ADDED PROCESSING==Preparation of purified gutta percha involves chopping the blocks of crude material into smallpieces, removing the resinous ("non-gutta") fraction by dissolution in cold petroleum spirit,and then dissolving the remaining, separated gutta fraction in hot petroleum spirit. This hot

extract is drained from any insoluble foreign matter and then allowed to cool, whereupon thepurified gutta percha separates out. After separation and distillation of residual solvent thehot, plasticized gutta is rolled into sheets and stored, either in the dark in well sealed tins,or in water. Solvent extraction of gutta from harvested leaves follows the same principles as above, butinvolves pulverized leaf material instead of chopped crude gutta percha. Bleaching earth isadded to the hot mixture to remove unwanted leaf pigments. An alternative method of processing the leaves involves digesting the leaf pulp in hot water,and collecting and pressing the coagulated latex which separates out into blocks. == PRODUCTS OTHER THAN LATEX==

 == DEVELOPMENTAL POTENTIAL==Although recent Indonesian export data show a modest upward trend, there is insufficientinfolmationinformation, here, to be able to make an informed judgement as to the developmentalpotential of Pala quium ''Palaquium'' and gutta percha production. In particular, it is not known whetherthe gutta percha produced in Indonesia (or elsewhere) comes from plantation or wild sources. == SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY==*LOCKHART-SMITH, C.J. (1972) Market prospects for gutta-percha. Report of the Tropical ProductsInstitute, London [now Natural Resources Institute, Chatham].*READER, D.E. (1953) Gutta-percha. ''Colonial Plant and Animal Products'', '''3'''(1), 33-45.*SERIER, J.B. (1986) [Tree secretions] [includes balata and gutta percha] (in French). ''Bois et ForetsForêts des Tropiques'', (213), 33-39.*STERN, H.J. (1939) Gutta percha and balata: purification in the factory. ''The Rubber Age'', (Oct.),245-249 and 258.*TONGACAN, A.L. (1971) ''Gutta Percha''. FPRI Technical Note No. 106. 2pp. Laguna, thePhilippines: Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission.*WILLIAMS, L. (1962) Laticiferous plants of economic importance. II. Mexican chilte (''Cnidoscolus''):a source of gutta-like material. ''Economic Botany'', '''16''', 53-70.

{| class="wikitable center" text-align:right;|+ Table 35. Gutta percha: exports from Indonesia, and destinations, 1988-93(tonnes)|- ! ||1988 || 1989 ||1990 ||1991 ||1992 ||1993|- |Total || 3 || 75 || 156 || 316 || 366 || 241|- |colspan="7" align="left" |''Of which to'':|- | Singapore ||-|| 72 || 119 || 316 || 363 || 234|- | USA || 2 || 3 36 ||-|| 3||-|- | Belgium/Luxembourg I ||1||-|| 1||-||-||-|- | Japan || - || - || - ||-||-|| 6|}