Shellac

Shellac flakes and shellac - Important questions and answers

What is shellac?

Shellac is a substance with resinous properties whose usefulness as a natural raw material lies in various areas of application. Shellac has a long history: The first mentions of shellac can be traced back over 3000 years into the past. Shellac was first used in the medical field in South and Southeast Asia.

Over time, shellac has proven its usefulness all over the world. Today it is an indispensable industrial product. Especially in the field of food processing, in the medical field as well as in wood surface treatment, shellac is used frequently and with pleasure.

What are the properties of shellac flakes?

Depending on the variety, the color of shellac can vary. There are colorless, yellow, amber and orange to brown-red colors.

Shellac is offered in different variations as a finished application product.

The shellac flakes can be waxy or wax-free.

Shellac can have different properties depending on the temperature: When dry and cool, shellac is hard and brittle. When the shellac is heated, it takes on a tough, melting consistency. The melting range of shellac here is approximately 65 to 85 °C.

Shellac is sensitive to contact with water. Even though it is not water-soluble, shellac swells when exposed to moisture and is therefore not waterproof. For this reason, shellac is mainly suitable for interior use. Shellac can be dissolved in alcohol, organic acids and aqueous alkalis.

The production of shellac flakes

Where does shellac come from?

The origin of shellac can be traced back to India. Over time, the raw material was also exported to Europe.

How is shellac obtained?

The resin-like substance is produced by scale insects, which convert plant sap from bark and leaves into a resinous secretion. This resin is the precursor to shellac.

The resin is collected from the trees, then washed, and then melted.

Application of shellac

Where is shellac used?

Shellac is mainly used in various branches of industry.

In food processing, it is used as an additive and labeled with the European approval number E 904.

Shellac is also used in the pharmaceutical sector as a coating agent for pills.

In surface treatment, shellac is used to restore objects. In gilding, the substance is used to block absorbent substrates or as a protective coating.

How to use shellac flakes?

In order to use shellac flakes correctly, it should first be proportionally dissolved with alcohol for a certain period of time. After the dissolution is complete, the solution is cleaned of any impurities by pressing it through a fine-meshed cloth.

The exact application description can be found under the respective shellac product.

Cost & purchase of shellac flakes

How much do shellac flakes cost?

The cost depends on the type of shellac in question. They can range from the lower to the middle, double-digit price range. Commercially available quantities range from 1 kg to 10 kg.

Where can I buy shellac flakes?

You can find different types of shellac flakes in the Gerstendörfer gold leaf store.

Things to know about shellac flakes

Is shellac vegan?

During processing and in production, the raw material is needed in large quantities for the industry. Among other things, live lice can be processed, which are still on residues of the resin and on pieces of bark. Thus, it is almost inevitable that lacquer scale lice also make up a minor component of shellac.

For this reason, shellac is neither vegan nor vegetarian.

Is shellac toxic?

As a rule, natural shellac is considered safe for consumption. As far as shellac for industrial use is concerned, it should not be consumed as it is often processed chlorine bleached.