Shellac

Shellac, resin produced by the lac insect (Laccifer lacca). It softens when it is heated to about 158° F (70° C), a property that makes it useful for making sealing wax. Shellac is also used as a binder in the manufacture of mica board and stiffening materials, and to make polishes, varnishes, and insulating materials. Shellac once had many uses, including the manufacture of phonograph records, but it has mostly been superseded by plastics.