New Chemical Makes Removing Gum a Snap

Bubble gum's days as an urban eyesore may be coming to an end. Revolymer Ltd., a startup company based in Wales, UK, has developed a new chemical base for chewing gum that allows it to be removed easily from pavements and other surfaces. "We have managed to change the surface characteristics of the gum base, which will allow a stream of water or a mild soap solution to break the adhesion between chewing gum residues and surfaces such as paving stones, furniture, hair, etc.," says Professor Terence Cosgrove, Revolymer's chief scientific officer. The company has located its headquarters and R&D facilities in the Flintshire plant of Warwick International Ltd., the leading specialty chemical producer in the UK. Warwick, a subsidiary of Sequa Corp., New York, a $2 billion manufacturer of aerospace, automotive, and chemical products, will have exclusive manufacturing rights to the polymer used as the gum base.