Nomenclature
CAS number: 9000-14-0
Resin copal; gum copal; anime (soft copal); kaurie; cowrie.
Description and references
A resin found as a fossil in Zaire, or exuding
from various species of Trachylobium, Hymenaea courbaril L., etc., Leguminosae. Occurs as hard or soft copals.
Habit. Zanzibar, Mozambique, also S. America, Australia,
Philippine Islands and West Indies. Constit. Zanzibar
copal contains 80% trachylolic acid, 4% isotrachylolic acid, 6% resene
and volatile oil. Kaurie copal contains dammaric acid, dammaran and
a resin.
Properties
Yellowish to yellowish-brown pieces of various
sizes; conchoidal fracture; odorless and tasteless. Hard copals are
almost insol in usual solvents; soft copals are partly sol in alcohol,
chloroform or glacial acetic acid; both copals after having been fused
are sol in oil turpentine and linseed oil.Use
In varnishes and cements; as substitute for amber;
manuf oil cloths and linoleum. In dentistry, for modeling compds
and cavity varnishes.