Dewaxed shellac

The PhEur 2005 defines four types of shellac depending on the nature of the treatment of the crude shellac (seed lac) wax-containing shellac bleached shellac dewaxed shellac and bleached dewaxed shellac. The USPNF 23 similarly defines four types of shellac orange shellac dewaxed orange shellac regular bleached (white) shellac and refined bleached shellac. The JP 2001 defines two types purified shellac and white shellac (bleached). 

Surface consolidation, where little strain is placed on the object, other than handling, may provide ample stabilization. These conditions might best be managed by the use of reversible surface resins such as the acryloids or not dewaxed shellac resins in reduced concentrations of ethanol. 

Chem. Descrip. Bleached dewaxed shellac/ethanol Uses Coating agent, gloss aid, moisture barrier, antiblocking agent, shelf life extender for foods, esp. for coating chocolates, candies, fruits, health foods... 

Although there are many other kinds of insect waxes, only two are of economic importance namely, shellac wax and Chinese insect wax. Shellac wax is derived from the lac insect, a parasite that feeds on the sap of the lac tree indigenous to India. The commercial wax is not ordinarily the native Indian lac wax, but is a by-product recovered from the dewaxing of shellac spar varnishes. Lac wax melts at 72-80°C, whereas commercial shellac wax melts at 80-84.5°C. Its high melting point and dielectric properties favor its use in the electrical industry for insulation. Chinese insect wax is the product of the scale insect. 

Bleached shellac CertiSeal dewaxed orange shellac E904 lac Mantrolac R-49-, orange shellac refined bleached shellac regular bleached shellac Swanlac. 

Various different grades of modified or refined shellac are available, which may be broadly defined as either bleached or orange shellac. Orange shellac is essentially the crude shellac obtained from seed lac, as described above. It may retain most of its wax or be dewaxed, and may contain less of the natural color than was originally present. The quantities of wax, coloring material, and other impurities present may vary the... 

Derivation A natural resin secreted by the insect Laccifer lacca (Coccus lacca) and deposited on the twigs of trees in India. After collection, washing, and purification by melting and filtering, it is formed into thin sheets, that are later fragmented into flakes of orange shellac. This may be dewaxed and bleached to a transparent product. Soluble in alcohol insoluble in water. 

Acetanyl acetone, a diketone, is a water-white liquid with an agreeable odor. It is completely soluble in water, almost entirely soluble In such substances as toluene, kauri gum and rosin, and only partly soluble in raw linseed oil, shellac, dewaxed dammar and ester gum. It has been suggested as an intermediate In the manufacture af rubber accelerators, dyes, inhibitors, insecticides, and pharmoceuticals and for the preparotlr of derivatives of thiophene, furan and pyrrole. It may also be employed in tanning hides and skins. 

It is a colorless to straw-yellow, oily liquid with a peppermint-like odor. It will darken and form a solid residue an exposure arxl aging. It is miscible with most organic liquids and it is a good solvent for such substances os nitrocellulose, ethylcellulose, law-viscosity cellulose acetate, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl resins, hydrocarbons, raw linseed oil, kauri gum, rosin, ester gum and synthetic rubber. It will only partly dissolve shellac and dewaxed dammar. 

Dewaxing n. Process of removing waxes from natural resins (dammars, shellacs, etc.). 

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