If you have used protein glue (animal glue, hide glue) chances are you have wondered: Why is my glue a different color than my last order? In this post, we will dive into this ‘mystery’.

We've all heard the old saying "taking the horse to the glue factory". As glue manufacturers, this old saying drives us a little nutty. Here's why...

Before the 1970's, the primary ingredient in our protein glues was extracted collagen from hides of bovine and porcine. 

Our protein glue products are based on gelatin protein which is derived from the hydrolysis of collagen. Collagen is a protein ingredient of animal hide, tissue and bone. We source our gelatin in the form of soft gel netting which is recycled from pharmaceutical companies.

Protein glue is composed of polyamides of alpha-amino acids. The solubility of protein glues in water is due in large part to the fact that five of the major constituent amino acids present in glue possess high water solubility. Protein glues are insoluble in oils, waxes, organic solvents and absolute alcohol. They may be emulsified in water-oil or oil-water systems.