Shellac

Shellac is a waxy secretion of the lac insect Coccus lacca, found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. When dissolved in acetone or alcohol, shellac yields a varnish of superior gloss and hardness and is available in numerous grades. It is used in the traditional "French polish" method of finishing furniture. Orange shellac is bleached with sodium hypochlorite solution to form white shellac. Because it is compatible with most other finishes, shellac is also used as a barrier or primer coat on wood to prevent the bleeding of resin or pigments into the final finish, or to prevent wood stain from blotching. Lightly tinted shellac preparations are also sold as paint primer.


As it is edible, shellac was used as a glazing agent on pills or candies such as M&M's. For this purpose, it has the food additive E number E904.




Shellac was also used in the production of gramophone records until ca. 1950. See gramophone record for details.