Caulking with pitch

Early references to petroleum and its derivatives occur in the Bible, although by the time the various books of the Bible were written, the use of petroleum and bitumen was established. Nevertheless, these writings do offer documented examples of the use of petroleum and related materials. The caulking of a vessel with pitch is noted (Genesis 6 14) and the occurrence of slime (bitumen) pits in the Valley of Siddim (Genesis, 14 10), a valley at the southern end of the... 

Dead Sea, is reported. There is also reference to the use of tar as a mortar when the Tower of Babel was under construction (Genesis 11 3). Another example of the use of pitch (and slime) is given in the story of Moses (Exodus 2 3) where the basket in which he was placed to float in the river was caulked with a derivative. Perhaps the slime was a lower melting bitumen whereas the pitch was a higher melting material the one slime) acting as a flux for the other pitch). 

Caulking of the ark with pitch is described in Genesis 6.14. Linen fabric, at least 7000 years old has been unearthed near Robenshausen, Switzerland. Wool fabric was used in Mesopotamia as early as 4000 B.C., cotton was woven by the ancient Eg5rptians and Sericulture was practiced in China as early as 2500 B.C. 

The use of adhesives and sealants dates back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians used giun arabic and animal glues for bonding papyrus reeds and veneering finniture (Dick, 1987). For several hundred years the crevices between the wooden planks of boat hulls have been caulked with rope and pitch to prevent water leaks. 

A plasticizer is a substance the addition of which to another material makes that material softer and more flexible. This broad definition encompasses the use of water to plasticize clay for the production of pottery, and oils to plasticize pitch for caulking boats. A more precise definition of plasticizers is that they are materials which, when added to a polymer, cause an increase in the flexibiUty and workabiUty, brought about by a decrease in the glass-transition temperature, T, of the polymer. The most widely plasticized polymer is poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) due to its excellent plasticizer compatibility characteristics, and the development of plasticizers closely follows the development of this commodity polymer. However, plasticizers have also been used and remain in use with other polymer types. 

Bitumen was used in ancient times as an adhesive for sealing hydraulic structures and as mortar for masonry (5]. The Bible mentions that Noah used pitch for caulking the Ark. Not unlike the Tower of Babylon, the houses of one of the most ancient cities in the world, Mohenjo-Daro in the upper Indus valley, were constructed with bricks of clay and bitumen monar [61. 

Oakum- Loose hemp or jute fiber that s impregnated with tar or pitch and used to caulk large seams or for packing plumbing pipe joints... 

Pitch, Archangel n. Originally a genuine pine pitch made from pine tar in the Archangel district of Russia in this country a similar product is made from residues of pine origin, blended with various oils to make a pitch for caulking boats. Its acidity is due mainly to rosin acids. 

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