Asked by: Willem Davies, Bradford
Chewing gum has been with us since the Stone Age - chicle gum was made from the sap of the Sapodilla tree. Most modern gums are based on a synthetic equivalent, a rubbery material called polyisobutylene that's also used in the manufacture of inner tubes. Polyisobutylene is mixed with plasticisers and materials - all food grade - to make the gum mixture chewable.
The success of chicle and polyisobutylene lies partly in the narrow temperature range over which materials soften. So a material that's firm and easy to mould becomes soft and pliable in the warmth of the mouth.
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