WD40_enjoyer - 12-7-2025 at 07:51
I found a weird chemical in a family relatives workshop and I can't figure out what it is. It is some weird
and kind of flexy in texture orange chemical.
It comes from an old paint dealership in sweden that no longer exists so I can't ask them what it is. The chemical is in a brown paper bag and is
suspected to be atleast from the 1990s. Please help me identify it!
Fulmen - 12-7-2025 at 08:22
If it's soluble in alcohol it could be shellac.
Deathunter88 - 12-7-2025 at 08:49
Looks like blonde or amber shellac flakes.
BromicAcid - 12-7-2025 at 09:23
I third shellac, it famously comes in flakes.
WD40_enjoyer - 12-7-2025 at 09:35
I am not currently in my lab or close to it so I have no way of knowing exactly what it is for the moment but thanks for the replies and answers. Is
there anything interesting with shellac I could do? For example anything pyrotechnic?
Axt - 12-7-2025 at 09:45
Theres a bottle of it sitting out in the shed here. It only takes fire with difficulty after melting, smells plasticey. It's used (or at least was
used) as a binder in pyrotechnics.
WD40_enjoyer - 12-7-2025 at 09:57
Looks the same. Is it worth for me to ask to keep it or should I just let it be there?
Axt - 12-7-2025 at 10:05
Shellac is ancient (derived from an insect) but still common and you should find it in most hardware stores. I'd let it be, unless you want a little
to experiment with making your own matchheads etc. It's a good bunder for chlorate.
WD40_enjoyer - 12-7-2025 at 10:09
In that case I might aswell keep it since the people in charge of the garage didn't even know it was there or what it was and they said that they
wouldn't mind if I took it. It maybe comes inhand someday.
Morgan - 12-7-2025 at 16:09
Maybe of interest.
https://youtu.be/iEkKwOWZS_E?feature=shared