Natural resins

Abstract

A short description of the origin, physical properties, classification and chemical composition of the most abundant natural resins from trees and plants is presented, some of which have been used since immemorial times as adhesives and coatings. It is in this form that they occur most commonly as museum materials. Fossil resins such as amber and hard copals have also been used to make objects such as jewellery or small sculptures, while articles of rubber have increasing interest as artefacts of industrial archaeology.

Keywords

• Natural resins
• Origin
• Classification
• Chemical composition