Talk:Colophony

Kolofono Kolophonium

Colophony (also called rosin) is the non-volatile component of resin obtained from conifers, especially pines. Cleaned and freed from water and essential oils, it is a brittle, brownish or yellowish substance. Note that rosin is a specific type of resin. Not all resins are rosins.

It chiefly consists of different resin acids, especially abietic acid.

Colophonium has various applications, including:
 * treatment of the bow of a string instrument
 * use as flux (metallurgy) for soldering: The tin-lead solder commonly used for electronics has about 1% colophium as core which acts as flux agent, i. e. it facilitates getting a well conducting non-oxidized connection.
 * as ingredient in printing inks, varnishes, glues and chewing gum
 * in former times, as medicine
 * in sports:
 * Ballet slippers are rubbed in powdered rosin to reduce slipping.
 * Baseball pitchers use a rosin bag to keep their hands dry. Usage of rosin is specifically mentioned in major league baseball rules
 * as main ingredient of a powder used to polish glass when making optical instruments such as lenses (Also, amateur telescope makers use a polishing lap made from rosin to polish and figure telescope mirrors and lenses.)

Colophony also is the name of a Ionic city, from which the resin got its name.

The city was (not is) Colophon. In most of the English-speaking world we use the word rosin. Yo, babe, toss me some Colophony slash Colophonium slash colophium so's I kin colophinize my fiddle bow... Caltrop