Changes in the properties of shellac on blending with rosin, effect on storage

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to see the effect in the properties of shellac on blending with rosin (another natural resin) and study their changes during storage.

Design/methodology/approach

Blending of rosin was done at seedlac (semi‐pure lac) stage. Shellac was then prepared by bhatta (Indian country) process, in the form of button lac. Physico‐chemical properties of the blends were studied at regular time intervals following standard procedures.

Findings

Improvement in the physicochemical properties of shellac was noticed by blending with rosin to a great extent; less degradation in the properties of blends was observed with storage compared to those of parent shellac.

Research limitations/implications

Because rosin possesses very high fluidity and life under heat, exact value of flow and life under heat of rosin and its blends with shellac having high rosin content could not be determined.

Practical implications

The results give an idea to entrepreneurs, processors and industrialists of how much rosin is to be blended with shellac to bring improvements in its fluidity and life under heat for commercial exploitation, especially for inferior quality of shellac.

Originality/value

Systematic study has been done for the first time, as no quantitative data was available on the changes in the different properties of shellac which take place on blending with rosin.

Citation

Fahim Ansari, M., Sarkhel, G., Nath Goswami, D. and Baboo, B. (2013), "Changes in the properties of shellac on blending with rosin, effect on storage", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 42 No. 4, pp. 256-263. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-01-2012-0006