Varnish tree

Rhomboeder, n. rhombohedroni rhomboedrisch, a. rhombohedral. rhomboidisch, a. rhomboid, rhomboidal. Rluislack, m. rhus varnish (from the Japanese varnish tree, Rhus vernict/era). rhythmisch, a. rhythmic. 

Some time before 200 B.c., the Chinese used an exudate from the conifer Rhus verniciflua (later known as the varnish tree) as a coating. The process was further developed in Japan, where by a.d. 400, the product was known as... 

Japan lacquers (Japan varnishes). Genuine J. 1. are obtained from exudates (injury Juices) of Rhus verni-ciflua (Anacardiaceae), the Japanese lacquer tree (varnish tree), (Latin verniciflua=excreting varnish). J. 1. are soluble in 60-80% ethanol they are used traditionally in Japan and Asia as varnish. Since genuine J. 

Japanese lacquer n. A glossy coating obtained by tapping the sap from the Japanese varnish tree (Rhus vernicifera) or sumac. Langenheim JH (2003) Plant resins chemistry, evolution ecology and ethnobotany. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Weismantal GF (1981) Paint handbook. McGraw-Hill Corp. Inc., New York. 

Varnish tree (1758) n. Any of various trees yielding a milky juice from which in some cases varnish or lacquer is prepared. 

Concurrently, the Egyptians, Japanese, and Chinese were beginning to develop lacquers (Stillman, I960). Some time before 200 b.c., the Chinese used the exudation (sap) from the conifer Rhus vemicifera (which became known as the sumac or varnish tree) as a coating. This plant has also been called the urushi tree. The tree belongs to the same family as the poison ivy plant, and like it, all parts of the tree are toxic— tree, sap, and latex. Those who tap the tree must wear gloves and protective clothing. The active irritant is urushiol, a catechol derivative. 

B.c. Lacquers prepared from the exudation of the eonifer Rhus vernicera, called the Umshi tree (varnish tree). 

The oriental lacquer is prepared from the sap of the varnish tree" Rhus verni-ciflua, which is an emulsion of an aqueous phase and an organic phase called urushi-ol. The urushi fraction consists of a mixture of catechol derivatives substituted in 3-po-sition with aliphatic C- 5 or C- 7 side chains. About 60% of these side chains are trie-nes. The structure of the trienes is similar to that in linseed or tung oil and is essential for the effectiveness of the oxidative curing of oriental lacquer. We have utilized new techniques and used combinations of modern techniques to analyze the urushiol mixtures and to characterize and identify each individual compound. We have also developed ultraviolet stabilizers for oriental lacquer, stabilizers that could be incorporated into the polymerizing mixture during the curing process to result in ultraviolet stabilized oriental lacquer. 

Toxicodendron vernicifluum, also called Rhus vemiciflua is the source of Japanese lacquer. The correct name of the varnish tree (Japanese lacquer tree) is Toxicodendron vernicifluum (Stokes) F. Barkley, the names Rhus vemiciflua Stokes, and Rhus vernicifera D.C. are synonyms [1,2]. 

Paint is one of the most common and widely used materials in home and building constmction and decoration (see Building materials). Its broad use comes from its abiHty to provide not only improved appearance and decoration but also protection of a substrate to which it is appHed. Evidence of the historical uses of paint goes back over 25,000 years to cave paintings found in Europe. The Bible describes pitch being used to coat and protect Noah s Ark. Over 10,000 years ago in the Middle East, various minerals and metals such as lime, siHca, copper and iron oxides, and chalk were mixed and reacted to produce many colors. Resins from plant sap and casein were also used. Over 2000 years ago in Asia, resins refined from insect secretions and sap from trees were used to make clear lacquers and varnishes (2). 

Natural resins are generally described as solid or semisolid amorphous, fusible, organic substances that are formed in plant secretions. They are usually transparent or translucent yeUow-to-brown colored, and are soluble in organic solvents but not in water. The principal uses for natural resins are in varnishes, printing inks, adhesives, paper size, and polymer compositions. The term natural resins includes tree and plant exudates, fossil resins, mined resins, and shellac. They often have been altered from their original state during isolation and processing. For some appHcations, the resins have been chemically modified to increase their industrial utiUty. 

Kopal-baum, m. copal tree, -brecher, m. copal disintegrator. -fimis, m. copal varnish, -harz, -gummi, n. copal resin, copal, -in-saure, /. copalinic acid. 

Shellac [124,125] is a natural resin used in very old times for varnishes and moulding compounds. The resin secreted by the lac insect, Kerriar paca, is collected by scraping the shellac-encrusted trees found in southern parts of Asia. It consists of a complex mixture of cross-linked polyesters derived from hydroxy acids, principally aleuritic acid (9,10,16-trihydroxyhexadecanoic acid). From a structural point of view, it appears that this material can be used as a crosslinking agent and/or as a monomer for developing dentrite-like polymers. The question is whether it is possible to produce this material from shellac by controlled hydrolysis. 

Amber Extinct Pinus succinifera trees Gemstone varnish... 

Dammar Trees of family Dipterocapacaea Torch fuel varnish... 

Mastic. Mastic is the resin obtained from the small mastic tree Pistacia lentis-cus, of the sumac family, found chiefly in Mediterranean countries. When the bark of the tree is injured, the resin exudes as drops. Mastic is transparent and pale yellow to green in color. The main ancient uses of mastic were as an adhesive, for making varnish, as a medicine, and for flavoring. 

Each painter had his own technique the binding medium was thus prepared using different additives, giving rise to a variety of recipes for each technique. For example, it is believed that fig latex (a white liquid exuded by the fig tree) was commonly added to the egg tempera, and that animal or plant resins were added to oil- and wax-based binders. On account of their adhesive properties, these materials were used not only as paint binders, but also as consolidants in restorations, as ingredients in varnishes used to finish paintings, and as ingredients of mordants to apply metallic leaf decorations. 

In the nineteenth century dammar, a soft resin derived from trees of southern Asia was introduced in Europe and used for making colourless varnish. Mixed with oil of turpentine it has become the preferred varnish for oil painting, due to its superior optical properties and better ageing stability than the other natural resins. 

Many gums and resins that ooze out of the trees also behave like plastic. Sealing Wax when warmed becomes plastic can be impressed with a seal. Glass and clay are also plastic material of mineral origin. By early nineteenth century, man had learned to mould many articles from natural gums and resins and make protective films of varnish from Shellac. 

A different reason for appropriating a material object comes from the kauri (Agathis alba) and merkus (Pinus merkusii) pine forests of Malaysia. Local people collect soft resin from these trees and sell it as a cash crop. Under the name Malay damar, this exudate is exported as a valued ingredient for high quality varnishes. 

Polyesters are also produced naturally in some animals. In particular, shellac is a natural product that was for many years of major commercial importance as a moulding resin (e.g. for phonograph records) and a varnish. It is a constituent of lac, which is secreted by the lac insect of S. E. Asia and exuded by it onto trees. Shellac, which is obtained by purification from lac, is a complex polyester which can be hydrolysed to polyhydroxylic acids such as 9,10,16-trihydroxyhexadecanoic acid [97],... 

Shellac, which was used by Edison for molding his first photograph records and is still used as an alcoholic solution (spirit varnish) for coating wood, is a cross-linked polymer consisting largely of derivatives of aleuritic acid (9,10,16-trihydroxyhexadecanoic acid). Shellac is excreted by small coccid insects Coccus lacca), which feed on the twigs of trees in Southeast Asia. Over 2 million insects must be dissolved in ethanol to produce 1 kg of shellac. 

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