Gutta-percha - this is .. The meaning of the word "gutta-percha"

A material such as gutta percha refers to a variety of hard natural latex derived from the juice of trees of the genus Palaquium, Isonandra and Dichopsis. The word itself comes from the name of the plant in the Malay language - "geyha-persa," which translates as "glove latex." Gutta-percha - this is what? This adjective is used both literally and figuratively.

From the scientific point of view

What is the meaning of the word "gutta-percha"? From the scientific point of view, this material was classified in 1843 and is classified as useful natural thermoplastics. In the second half of the 19th century gutta-percha was used for a variety of domestic and industrial purposes.

In particular, this material was necessary as an insulating substance for underwater telegraph cables. Long before the gutta-percha was introduced into the Western world, it was used in a less processed form by the natives of the Malaysian archipelago for the manufacture of knife handles, walking sticks and other purposes.

The first European to discover this material was John Tradescant, who discovered him in the Far East in 1656. He called it the "Maser Forest". Dr. William Montgomery, medical officer of the Indian Service, introduced gutta-percha to practical use in the West. He was the first to assess the potential of this material in medicine, and in 1843 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Art in London.

Gutta Percha

In Malaysia, a tree is known as a "taban", and people there traditionally used hardened juice ("khans") for making items such as molded handles for tools and knives. This natural latex, also called gutta-percha, is a very valuable product.

Palaquium gutta trees grow to a height of 5-30 m and are usually up to 1.5 m in diameter. The leaves are evergreen, alternating or spirally, simple, whole, about 8-25 cm long each. They are glossy green on top and often yellow or bluish below.

Flowers appear in small accumulations along the stems, each flower has a white corolla with four-seven (mostly six) sharp blades. The fruit is an egg-shaped berry 3-7 cm in diameter, containing from one to four seeds. In many species it is edible.

In Australia, gutta-percha is a common name, especially used for the tree of Excoecaria parvifolia, which gives aromatic, heavy dark brown wood. It is also called the "northern birch". This particular species is not associated with the genus Palaquium.

From a chemical point of view

What is gutta-percha? In the literal sense it is made of gutta-percha. What is this chemical from the chemical point of view? In its structure, it is a latex elastomer or a polymer made of isoprene or polyisoprene. While latex rubbers are amorphous in molecular structure, the gutta percha (transstructure) crystallizes, which leads to a more rigid consistency. Gutta-percha is an isoprene polymer that is soft when heated and can easily be cast into various shapes that are finely detailed.

Use in dentistry

The same bioinertia that made gutta percha suitable for marine cables was also useful for medical purposes, namely in dentistry. This material is used in many surgical devices and in root therapy (obturation or filling of empty space inside the root of the tooth after it has undergone endodontic therapy). Its physical and chemical properties, including inertness and biocompatibility, melting point, ductility and ductility, make it important in endodontics.

Historical use

Being biologically inert and stable, this kind of latex is a good electrical insulator with high dielectric permittivity. Wood of many species is also valuable. In the western world, the gutta-percha properties were only noticed in 1842, although local Malay aborigines used it for centuries. If this liquid (the juice) is allowed to evaporate and coagulate in the sun, a hard latex is obtained, which can again be flexible if it is heated, but not brittle, unlike the rubber obtained before the opening of vulcanization.

By 1845, telegraph wires, isolated gutta-percha, had been produced in the United Kingdom. Latex served as an insulating material for early underwater telegraph cables, including the first transatlantic telegraph cable. Gutta-percha was particularly suitable for this, since it was not attacked by marine plants or animals that spoiled previous submarine cables.

The material was the main component of the Chatterton connection, used as an insulating sealant for the telegraph and other electrical cables. Since 1930, polyethylene displaces gutta-percha as an electrical insulator.

In the middle of the XIX century gutta-percha was also used for furniture manufacture, in particular, by the company "Gutta-Percha", founded in 1847. When heated, the material could be molded into furniture, ornaments or dishes. Some of these decorative revival pieces were shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851 at Hyde Park in London.

Modern use

It was also used to make funeral jewelry because it had a dark color and could easily be molded into beads or other shapes. Pistol grips and shoulder pads were also made of gutta-percha, which gave them strength and durability. The guttie golf ball, which had a solid gutta percha core, produced a real revolution in the game.

This material remained the main industrial product in the twentieth century, but later it was gradually replaced by excellent quality synthetic materials. Despite its long history, gutta-percha is still used today. Modern dentists continue to apply it to fill the root canals.

Gutta-percha: the meaning

What is this concept? So, in a literal sense, gutta-percha are made of gutta-percha (natural rubber). In a figurative sense, this word has acquired significance, related to flexibility and elasticity. With regard to people, this definition began to be used and became a common name after DV Grigorovich wrote his sad story "Gutta-percha boy."

This is a tragic story about a circus boy, who was told that he has no bones, so flexible and agile he was. Henceforth, people who are called gutta-percha, are athletes with a good stretch. It is achieved by prolonged training. Gutta-percha woman is a gymnast, capable of doing incredible things with her body.

Gutta percha gait

What do you mean gutta-percha? This word is now quite fashionable and on youth slang means flexible, beautiful, graceful. If you recall the words from the song of singer Bianchi - "Gutaperchev's gait we go to" Iarfor "(night club) ...".

Here we mean not so much elastic and flexible, as soft, swaying and graceful. You can sometimes hear about a person that he or she is so gutta-percha. It can mean flexible and sexy. Despite the fact that in the past this term was associated with rubber and gymnasts, now it is also a synonym for sexuality.

Incredible flexibility

Gutta-percha - this is surprisingly flexible, plastic, having the ability to bend in different directions, and without prejudice to one's own health. This can often be seen in the circus. With such numbers perform gutta-percha people, gymnasts and acrobats with increased flexibility of the body, stunning viewers with their incredible plasticity.