LACQUER.

By Shakthivel
 WHAT IS LACQUER?

A liquid made of shellac dissolved in alcohol, or of

synthetic substances, that dries to form a hard protective
coating for wood, metal.

The sap of the lacquer tree used as a varnish.

 WHAT IS SHELLAC ?

Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug, on trees

in the forests of India and Thailand. It is processed and
sold as dry flakes and dissolved in alcohol to make
liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on wood finish.
 HISTORY
• The term lacquer originates from the Sanskrit word lākshā (लाक्षा) representing the number
100,000, which was used for both the lac insect (because of their enormous number) and the
scarlet resinous secretion, rich in shellac, that it produces that was used as wood finish in
ancient India and neighbouring areas.
• Asian lacquerware, which may be called "true lacquer", are objects coated with the treated,
dyed and dried sap of Toxicodendron vernicifluum or related trees, applied in several coats to
a base that is usually wood. This dries to a very hard and smooth surface layer which is
durable, waterproof, and attractive to feel and look at. Asian lacquer is sometimes painted
with pictures, inlaid with shell and other materials, or carved, as well as dusted with gold.
 SHEEN MEASUREMENT
Lacquer sheen is a measurement of the shine for a given lacquer.
Different manufacturers have their own names and standards for
their sheen. The most common names from least shiny to most
shiny are: flat, matte, egg shell, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss
(highest).
 TYPES

•SHELLAC BASED
•CHEMICAL/ BIOLOGICAL
•PURELY CHEMICAL
•WATER BASED
 SHELLAC BASED

In India the insect lac, or Shellac was used since ancient times.

Shellac is the secretion of the lac bug (Tachardia lacca Kerr.
or Laccifer lacca). It is used for the production of different
grades of lacquer, used in surface coating.
 CHEMICAL/ BIOLOGICAL
• URUSHIOL BASED: OXIDATION AND POLYMERISATION UNDER ACTION OF
LACCASE
Urushiol-based lacquers differ from most others, being slow-drying, and set by oxidation and
polymerization, rather than by evaporation alone. In order for it to set properly it requires a
humid and warm environment. The phenols oxidize and polymerize under the action of an
enzyme laccase, yielding a substrate that, upon proper evaporation of its water content, is hard.
These lacquers produce very hard, durable finishes that are both beautiful and very resistant to
damage by water, acid, alkali or abrasion. The active ingredient of the resin is urushiol, a
mixture of various phenols suspended in water, plus a few proteins. The resin is derived from
trees indigenous to East Asia, like lacquer tree Toxicodendron vernicifluum, and wax tree
Toxicodendron succedaneum.
 NITROCELLULOSE LACQUER

solvent-based lacquers that contain nitrocellulose, a resin

obtained from the nitration of cotton and
other cellulosic materials
They were extensively used in the automotive industry and
others for the next 30 years until further chemical advancements
replaced them in 19th century.
 ACRYLIC LACQUER:
BY POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLIC ACID
Lacquers using acrylic resin, a synthetic polymer, were developed in the 1950s. Acrylic resin
is colourless, transparent thermoplastic, obtained by the polymerization of derivatives
of acrylic acid. Acrylic is also used in enamel paints, which have the advantage of not needing
to be buffed to obtain a shine. Enamels, however, are slow drying. The advantage of acrylic
lacquer is its exceptionally fast drying time. The use of lacquers in automobile finishes was
discontinued when tougher, more durable, weather- and chemical-resistant two-
component polyurethane coatings were developed.
 WATER BASED LACQUER
Due to health risks and environmental considerations involved in the use of solvent-based
lacquers, much work has gone into the development of water-based lacquers. Such lacquers
are considerably less toxic and more environmentally friendly, and in many cases, produce
acceptable results. While water-based lacquer's fumes are considerably less hazardous, and it
does not have the combustibility issues of solvent based lacquers, the product still dries fairly
quickly. Even though its odor is weaker, water-based lacquer can still produce airborne
particulates that can get into the lungs, so proper protective wear still needs to be worn. More
and more water-based colored lacquers are replacing solvent-based clear and colored lacquers
in under hood and interior applications in the automobile and other similar industrial
applications. Water based lacquers are used extensively in wood furniture finishing as well.
THANKYOU
SHAKTHIVEL
16136038