What are gums made of? Is Fevicol different?

• Natural gums are complex mixtures of high-molecular-weight polysaccharides and glycoproteins exuded by plants or produced microbially

  • Predominant monosaccharide units include arabinose, galactose, rhamnose and glucuronic acid

  • Protein content (glycoprotein fraction) typically 1–3 % by weight, conferring emulsifying properties

  • Often exist as calcium, magnesium or potassium salts, giving slight acidity and solubility in water

  • Examples

    • Gum arabic (acacia gum) from Acacia senegal/exudata trees

    • Guar gum from Cyamopsis tetragonoloba seeds

    • Xanthan gum produced by Xanthomonas campestris fermentation

• Functional roles of natural gums

  • Thickening and stabilizing agents in foods and beverages (e.g., soft drinks, sauces)

  • Emulsifiers in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics

  • Film-forming binders in inks, textiles and lithography

• Synthetic “gums” (adhesives) differ fundamentally in composition and origin

  • Based on poly-synthetic resins rather than natural polysaccharides

  • Engineered for high adhesive strength, controlled curing and resistance to moisture

Fevicol is a synthetic resin adhesive, not a plant-derived gum

• • Core polymer is polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a thermoplastic resin synthesized from vinyl acetate monomer

  • Does not contain sugars or proteins and is insoluble in water once cured

  • Variants (e.g., Fevicol SH, MR) are tailored for woodworking, laminates, crafts and high-strength industrial bonding

  • Applications include plywood, MDF, veneer, bookbinding, crafts and household repairs

Key differences between natural gums and Fevicol

• • Solubility

    • Natural gums dissolve in water to form viscous solutions

    • Fevicol is water-based in application but forms a water-resistant film upon curing

  • Biodegradability and toxicity

    • Natural gums are edible, biodegradable and safe for food/pharma uses

    • Fevicol PVA is non-toxic but not intended for ingestion and degrades slowly under environmental conditions

  • Functional performance

    • Gums impart rheological control and emulsion stability

    • Fevicol provides high tensile and shear strength for permanent bonding of porous substrates