What is in chewing gum base?

Gum, these small, bouncy candies freshen your breath and provide a relaxing way to pass the time. However, do you know what is contained in the core ingredient of chewing gum, the gum base? Let's find out.

First, the gum base is a high polymer that gives the gum its unique elasticity and chewability. The main components of the gum base usually include natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or a mixture of them. Natural rubber is derived from the latex of the rubber tree, while synthetic rubber is made by chemical synthesis. Nowadays, synthetic rubber is the most common rubber for the gum base ingredients. Rubber is added to the gum base, the main function is to make the gum base elastic and tough so it can chew for a long time.



In addition to rubber, the gum base also contains a variety of plasticizers, which can increase the softness and plasticity of the gum base. By adding different plasticizers to the gum base, it can not only help improve the taste of chewing gum but also extend the shelf life of chewing gum.

Besides rubber and plasticizers, it also contains softeners on the chewing gum base. The softener in the gum base plays a crucial role. The main function of the softener is to improve the hardness and adhesion of the gum so that the gum can maintain good softness and plasticity during chewing. They help reduce the melting point of the adhesive base during processing, thus making the adhesive base easier to process and form. Common softeners include glycerin, natural wax, edible paraffin, microcrystalline wax, and hardening oil. These substances are used in the processing of high molecular weight glue bases, which can increase the plasticity and softness of the gum base and improve the organizational structure of the gum base. The most common softener in gum base is wax, different waxes are used for producing gum base with different models and different quality. The amount of softener added needs to be carefully controlled, because too much softener may cause the gum to be too soft, affecting its chewing performance; A lack of softener may make the gum hard and difficult to chew. Therefore, manufacturers carefully adjust the ratio of softener to the desired taste and texture when producing chewing gum. Together with the softeners, texturizers, and emulsifiers are also added to the gum base.

In addition, the gum base also contains some antioxidants to prevent the gum from oxidizing during storage. These antioxidants are usually food grade and are not harmful to humans, but are effective in extending the shelf life of the gum.

It is worth mentioning that the formula of the gum base is a trade secret of the manufacturer, and different brands and types of gum may have different formulas. However, no matter how the formulation changes, the basic function of the gum base - providing elasticity and chewability - does not change.

In today's increasing awareness of environmental protection, the biodegradability of gum base has also become the focus of attention. Some manufacturers are researching and developing biodegradable gum bases to reduce the environmental impact of chewing gum. This is not only a technical challenge, but also a revolution in the traditional chewing gum industry.

In summary, the gum base contains a variety of ingredients that work together to create the gum we know. From rubber to plasticizers, from softeners to antioxidants, every ingredient plays an important role. With the advancement of science and technology and the change in consumer demand, the formulation of gum base is also constantly developed and improved. In the future, we have reason to look forward to more healthy and environmentally friendly chewing gum products. As consumers have higher requirements for gum health and sustainable development, the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable rubber bases is what future rubber base manufacturers need to continue to work hard. Now a special gum base for oral treatment, the raw materials of this gum base and conventional gum base raw materials are not the same and are characterized by a particularly hard, for treatment oral diseases. Besides, there’s also a special gum base that does not contain any rubber, to get a very soft gum base for making a special soft chewing gum. This also means that the raw material of the gum base can be changed with different customer requirements, whether it is the type of raw material of the gum base or the percentage of the gum base formula, it can be customized according to customer requirements. By changing the characteristics of the gum base, the chewing gum can be obtained satisfactorily, and the chewing gum manufacturer can open the market or obtain sales. This is also where the gum base manufacturers need to continue to research and develop, to provide satisfactory gum bases for chewing gum manufacturers.



Author: Wuxi Gum Base
Publication Date: 10/28/2024