Abstract
Natural gutta-percha, a biopolymer derived from the sap of Palaquium gutta trees, has long been utilized in endodontics for root canal obturation, yet its native physicochemical properties remain inadequately characterized. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of pure gutta-percha from Tjipetir, West Java, Indonesia, employing spectroscopic (FTIR, NMR), crystallographic (XRD), morphological (SEM/EDS, 3D microscopy), and thermal (DSC-TGA) techni-ques. Morphological assessment demonstrated a dense, non-porous microstructure with moderate surface roughness, supported by elemental homogeneity of carbon and oxygen as shown by EDS. FTIR and NMR confirmed that the material possessed a trans-1,4-polyisoprene structure, while XRD revealed a mixed crystalline profile comprising predominantly the β-phase with minor α-phase content. Thermal analysis identified a sharp endothermic transition at 56.5 °C with ΔH = −21.01 J/g and negligible mass loss, affirming high purity and stability. These findings establish a benchmark for natural gutta-percha, supporting its continued clinical utility in thermoplastic obturation and guiding future biomaterial innovations
Recommended Citation
Kartikasari, Dewi; Maulina, Wenny; Avivin, Alivia Nurul; Soedjoko, Djarwani Soeharso; and Anawati, Anawati
(2026)
"Chemical Composition and Thermal Behavior of Biopolymer Tjipetir Gutta-Percha,"
Makara Journal of Science: Vol. 30:
Iss.
3, Article 1.
DOI: 10.7454/mss.v30i3.3084
Available at:
https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/science/vol30/iss3/1
