Shellac

Shellac is

Shellac can be bought in Kharkov in the online shop of chemical reagents Novohim.

It is a natural resin, a secretion secreted by females of several species of bugs. These bugs parasitise on some tropical and subtropical trees, mainly in India and South-East Asia.

It is worth noting that today producers cultivate shellac in Asia and Central America by planting certain species on wild plants. The insects, by consuming the tree sap, secrete a resinous substance. It is then allowed to dry, collected, crushed and washed. The substance is then dried and becomes a loose lacquer substance, which is then further processed.

Shellac application

The application of shellac is characterised by a wide variety of directions.

Shellac is a long-lasting manicure, restoration varnish, and gilding varnish

Shellac is used to make a natural alcohol-based lacquer, popular in the production of environmentally friendly furniture. It is indispensable in the process of creating very expensive wooden musical instruments. For example:

• piano
• pianos
• violins
• acoustic guitars
• flutes and others.

Shellac serves as a fixative for the cut of leather soles and heels of exclusive expensive shoes. This material is used to make two types of varnish used in gold leafing:

1. With wax additives for pre-priming the surface for gilding
2. Purified dehydrated as a protective coating of gold tarnish against oxidation.

It is also used in restoration to protect paintings and icons. As, it provides the work with a reliable protection and at the same time can be easily removed from the work.

Another use of Shellac is for long-lasting manicures.

In pyrotechnics

Shellac is flammable, so it is added to fireworks and flares as a green colouring agent.

In food and pharmaceutical production

Shellac is edible, registered as food additive E904. Therefore, this has conditioned its use for coating:

• sweets
• chocolates
• dragee
• chewing gums
• fruits
• nuts
• coffee beans
• flour products
• pills and other products.

In the manufacture of ammunition

Shellac is part of the substance used to make tracer bullets and shells.

Shellac, which does not conduct electricity, is also used in insulating materials, including impregnations for paper and cardboard.

Moreover, before the invention of vinyl, it was used in the manufacture of gramophone records. Today it is used in alcohol varnishes, paints, sealing wax, horn and amber compositions.

Physico-chemical indicators:

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Shellac can be bought from the warehouse of Novohim Company in Kharkov or with delivery in Kiev, Poltava, Dnipro, Sumy, Kherson, Odessa, Zaporozhye, Melitopol, Lviv and all over Ukraine.