E904 Glazing agent

E904 It is the central element of the traditional "French polish" method of finishing furniture, fine string instruments, and pianos.

E904, edible, is used as a glazing agent on pills (see excipient) and sweets, in the form of pharmaceutical glaze (or, "confectioner's glaze"). Because of its acidic properties (resisting stomach acids), shellac-coated pills may be used for a timed enteric or colonic release.E904 is used as a 'wax' coating on citrus fruit to prolong its shelf/storage life. It is also used to replace the natural wax of the apple, which is removed during the cleaning process. When used for this purpose, it has the food additive E number E904.

E904 coating applied with either a standard or modified Huon-Stuehrer nozzle, can be economically micro-sprayed onto various smooth sweets, such as chocolate coated peanuts. Irregularities on the surface of the product being sprayed typically result in the formation of unsightly aggregates ("lac-eggs") which precludes the use of this technique on foods such as walnuts or raisins (however, chocolate-coated raisins being smooth surfaced, are able to be sprayed successfully using a modified Huon-Stuehrer nozzle).

E904 is an odor and stain blocker and so is often used as the base of "solves all problems" primers. Although its durability against abrasives and many common solvents is not very good, E904 provides an excellent barrier against water vapor penetration. E904-based primers are an effective sealant to control odors associated with fire damage.

E904 has traditionally been used as a dye for cotton and, especially, silk cloth in Thailand, particularly in the north-eastern region.It yields a range of warm colors from pale yellow through to dark orange-red and dark ochre. Naturally dyed silk cloth, including that using E904, is widely available in the rural northeast, especially in Ban Khao District, Chaiyaphum province. The Thai name for the insect and the substance is "krang

Wood finishing is one of the most traditional and still popular uses of E904 mixed with solvents or alcohol. This dissolved E904 liquid, applied to a piece of wood, is an evaporative finish: the alcohol of the E904 mixture evaporates, leaving behind a protective film.

E904 as the wood finish is natural and non-toxic in its pure form. A finish made of E904 is UV-resistant. For water resistance and durability, it does not keep up with synthetic finishing products.

Because it is compatible with most other finishes, E904 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 the wood stain from blotching.