Collagen is a fibrillar protein that forms the basis of the connective tissue of the body: tendon, bone, cartilage, dermis, etc. Collagen provides strength and elasticity of the tissue. The collagen molecule is a left-wound spiral of three α-chains.
[Tropocollagen molecule: three left-handed procollagens (red, green, blue) join to form a right-handed triple helical tropocollagen.](CC BY-SA 3.0, Link)
In terms of nutrition, collagen and gelatin are poor quality proteins, since they do not contain all the essential amino acids that a person needs - they are defective proteins. Producers of collagen-based food supplements claim that their products can improve the quality of the skin and nails, and joint health is a lie. Nothing from the outside will improve what's inside, unless it's materials for building the inside! Very important, among other things, is water, namely, its enough quantity for the production of collagen.
Colagen glues are glues of animal origin. They are produced from bones, cartilage, skin, mezdra and even a swimming poultry of sturgeons. When the raw material for the glue is heated in water, collagen adds water to it. As a result of hydrolysis, a glutin material is formed, which has gluing properties. It is dried and stored in such a way. Glutin in cold water swells and when dissolved, it dissolves into a liquid solution. When cooled, the solution turns into elastic jelly.
In accordance with that of which the glue is made, glues can be bone, mezdrovy, fish, including sturgeon.
Regular gelatin is that glue, because the dishes from it and freeze when cooled. In Italy with the help of fish glue make a dessert panacota.
Gelatin glue is the weakest of animal glues and is only elastic. Then follows bone. Mezdrovy, especially rabbit from the skins of rabbits, the most elastic of glues. Rabbit glue began to be produced in England, where there was a large number of rabbits and hence surpluses of pelts. The strongest is sturgeon glue. It is made from the swim bladder of sturgeon. Another such glue is called karluk. It is used by the peoples of the far North to glue skis or shoes.
Animal glue has a disadvantage - it is its solubility in water. Therefore, the glued objects must not be exposed to moisture. But this can be a dignity. If you do not properly attach something, you can always soak and pre-paste items.
The glutinous property of glutin is explained by the fact that the threads entering the helix disintegrate when heated, and when they remain, they again form a strong bonding of objects.
How to prepare glue. Initially, it should be soaked for 12-24 hours. The glue must absorb the water well. Then the glue is heated on a water bath stirring. Do not overheat the adhesive above 55C otherwise it will lose its adhesive properties.
Animal glue is also used as a retarder for setting gypsum. When the gypsum is closed with glue, it becomes like clay from which it is possible to mold. This quality of glue is used in the technique of producing artificial marble - Scagliola.
[Scagliola in the St. Lorenz Basilica in Kempten im Allgäu, Germany](By Frau Stuckhatorin: Barbara Fistulator alias Barbara Hackl (um 1600–1674); photographed by Hermetiker - Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link)
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