Gum Karaya (Sterculia urens)

Additional Details

In petroleum and gas producing industries the Gum Karaya is used in formulations of drilling fluids in removing calcareous deposits in the wells. Gum Karaya added to the lime-base drilling fluids to prevent water loss after reducing its viscosity by heating at 90oc. for 10 hrs.

Paper and Pulp: Gum Karaya is used in the paper industry for the manufacturing of certain special quality papers. It deflocculates the fibres and serves as binder for fibres. Use of Gum Karaya results in light weight sheets of improved formation and strength.

Leather and Allied Products: In leather industry it is employed as an ingredient of dressing compositions and in proportions for accelerating the tannin action weighing compositions. Gum Karaya is also used in the manufacture of collagen fibre material.

Miscellaneous Industrial Products: Low grade gum served as a more efficient binder in the briquette (a block of compressed coal dust).