इंटरनेट मानक

Disclosure to Promote the Right To Information

Whereas the Parliament of India has set out to provide a practical regime of right to
information for citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities,
in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority,
and whereas the attached publication of the Bureau of Indian Standards is of particular interest
to the public, particularly disadvantaged communities and those engaged in the pursuit of
education and knowledge, the attached public safety standard is made available to promote the
timely dissemination of this information in an accurate manner to the public.

“जान1 का अ+धकार, जी1 का अ+धकार” “प0रा1 को छोड न' 5 तरफ”

Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan Jawaharlal Nehru
“The Right to Information, The Right to Live” “Step Out From the Old to the New”

IS 868 (1990): Sealing wax [CHD 23: Lac, Lac Products and
Polishes]

“!ान $ एक न' भारत का +नम-ण”

Satyanarayan Gangaram Pitroda
“Invent a New India Using Knowledge”

“!ान एक ऐसा खजाना > जो कभी च0राया नहB जा सकता ह”

है”
ह
Bhartṛhari—Nītiśatakam
“Knowledge is such a treasure which cannot be stolen”
 IS 888 : 1990
( Reaffirmed 2003 )
WY* mm

*f&T *--mu
(-!“rr !F*m 1
Indian Standard
SEALING WAX - SPECIFICATION
( First Revision )
First Reprint MAY 1995

UDC 686’867’6

Q BIS 1990

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

December 1990 Price Group 3

 _-.-_.-_---_- -__ __. __~__._ _. ~._ -

Lac and Lac Products Sectional Committee, CHD 22

FOREWORD
This Indian Standard ( First Revision ) was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards on 28 March
1990. after the draft finalized by the Lac and Lac Products Sectional Commitee had been approved by
the Chemical Division Council.
The Indian Standard for sealing wax *as first published in 1956 based on the performance require-
ments only, without giving anything about the composition.
Keeping in view the difficulties faced by the consumers and manufacturers, this standard is now being
revised. In the revised standard, the limits for various ingredients have been specified. Grade 1 and
2 of the material has been clubbed as Grade 1.
Sealing wax is one of the important stores purchased by Government as well as public institutions.
It is used for sealing packages made up in paper or in cloth covers.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement’ of this standard is complied with, the
final value, observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or gnalysis, shall be rounded off in
accordance with IS 2 : 1960 ‘Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised )‘. The number of
significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified value in
this standard.
 IS 868 : 1990

Indian Standard
SEALING WAX - SPECIFICATION
( First Revision )
1 SCOPE 52 The common ingredients for making sealing
wax are shellac, rosin, mineral fillers and pitch.
1.1 This standard prescribes the require*ments and
methods of sampling and test for sealing wax 5.2.1 For Grade 1, Type I of sealing wax, the
which is to be used in the molten condition for minimum shellac content shall be 36 percent. For
putting seals on the joints of any packages made Grade 2 of sealing wax, shellac content and
of paper, cotton cloth, hessian, cork, metal, glass pitch content should be minimum 10 percent and
or wood and on which some embossed inscriptions 30 percent, respectively. Mineral loading should
are to be put while the wax is in molten condition. be within the limits of 30 to 40 percent for Grade
1 and 40 to 50 percent for Grade 2 of sealin’g wax.
2 REFERENCES The methods of test for determination of mineral
loading rosin, shellac, and pitch content are given
2.1 The following Indian Standards are necessary in Annexes B to E.
adjuncts to this standard:
5.3 Colour
IS No. Title
Sealing wax shall be uniform in colour. The colour
2978 : 1986 By products of lac (first revision)
shall not change markedly when the wax ‘is
6921 : 1973 Methods of sampling and test for melted. It shall be as agreed to between the
lac and lac products manufacturer and the purchaser for Grade 1.

3 GRADES 5.4 Odour and Fuming

3.1 There shall be 2 grades of sealing wax as Sealing wax when melted or burnt shall not fume
follows: noticeably or give off an offensive odour.

a) Grade I - A grade of sealing wax to give 5.5 Adhesion to Surface

satisfactory adhesion to hard sized and Sealing wax shall be capable of adhering to the
medium sized papers. It shall have two appropriate surfaces specified below according to
types: grade, when tested by the method specified in
Type 1 - with shellac not less than 36 Annex F.
percent, and a) Grade I - Heavy weight hard-surfaced
Type 2 - may or may not contain shellac. kraft, bond and sulphite papers and medium
sized kraft papers, light weight manilla and
b) Grade 2 - Low grade sealing wax to be all medium grade wrappings and envelopes.
used on all types of paper other than those
NOTE - Undur this category would CUIIIC, for
mentioned above and on materials other example, 75 gsm MC K kraft paper, bu$ woyea
than paper and glazed tag labels. paper used for embossed cilvclopes, manilla
envelopes (S. E. Series, Govt of India) of 75 and
4 DESCRIPTION 150 gsm reglstratlon and white cartridge envelopes
bf 100 gsm brown wrapping envelopes of 110 gsm
azure laid embossed envelopes and foreign air Inail
4.1 Sealing wax shall be uniform in composition service envelopes of Indun Post4 Department.
and shall be in the form of sticks, ‘lumps or any
other form as agreed to between the purchaser b) Grade 2 - Surfaces of other than those of
and the supplier. It shall be free from coarse hard and medium finised papers including
matter and any large particles .of filling material glazed tag labels, hessian, and cloth.
when tested by method given in Annex A. NOTE-This category inc!udcs papers such as rail-
w.,y t,tg labels, 60 gsm white printinglcredm woven
5 REQU 1REMENTS paper.
5.1 Sealing wax shall consist of ingredients which 5.5.1 The purchaser may supply samples of paper
are non-injurious to health and do not harm the or other materials for test of adhesion if required
surfaces on which they are used. by the supplier.

1
IS 868 : 1990

5.6 Capability of Taking Impressions 6 PACKING AND MARKING

All grades of sealing wax shall be capable of 6.1 Packing

taking a clear impression of the die with fine Sealing wax shall be packed in cardboard or any
inscriptions when tested by the method given in other suitable container as agreed to between the
Annex F. purchaser and the supplier. Number of sticks or
lumps of sealing wax in each container shall also
5.7 Heat Resistance be as agreed to between the purchaser and the
supplier. In case of sticks, inter-leafing paper
All grades of sealing wax shall satisfy the test of should be used to prevent sticking on with the
beat resistance as prescribed in Annex G. other.

5.8 Resistance to Heat Polymerization 6.2 Marking

The containers shall be marked with the following
Sealing wax of both grades shall satisfy the test as
information:
prescribed in Annex H.
a) Name and grade of the material;
5.9 Keeping Qualities b) Net mass;
c) Indication of source of manufacture;
Sealing wax shall not show any impairment of
d) Batch number or lot number in code or
the properties given in 5.4 to 5.8 within a period
otherwise; and
of 2 years from the date of manufacture.
e), Month and year of manufacture.
5.10 Size and Mass 7 SAMPLING
Size and .mass of the sealing wax sticks or lumps 7.1 Representative samples of the material shall
shall be as agreed to between the purchaser and be drawn accoFding to the method prescribed in
the supplier. Annex J.

ANNEX A

( Clause 4.1 )

UNIFORMITY OF COMPOSITION

A-L PROCEDURE coarse matter and large particles of filling

material. Then melt one portion of the stick or
A-l.1 Break a stick ar lump of sealing wax in lump and examine the melted material for coarse
two and examine the surface of the fracture for particles.

ANNEX B
( Clause 52.1 )

D;FERMINA~ON OF LOADING CONTENT

B-l PROClWURE 50 ml. fresh spirit. Afrer aompletion of extraction

B-l.1 The method for determination of matter the total extrat should be preserved for estimation
insoluble in’hot akohol as. @en in IS 6921 : 1976 of rosin and shellac.
( 6.1 add 6.2 ) may be applied. Only difference to
6-1.2 Quantity 0.f hot alcohol insoluble obtained
be made is that the filtrate from the washing,
is the loading content.
(see 6.1.4.3 of IS 6921) should be used alang with
 1s 868 : 1990

ANNEX C

( Clause 5.2.1 )
DETERMINATION OF ROSIN

C-l PROCEDURE In the residue, quantity of rosin present is deter-

C-1.1 The extract from ‘E’ is made to 250 ml mined by the method as given in IS 2978 : 1964
volume in a measuring flask. For rosin estimation ( A-6.3 ). Quantity of rosin obtained in 100 ml
100 ml of the solution is evaporated in a round solution should be multiplied by 2.5 to get the
bottom evaporating basin over a water bath, and total quantity of rosin in the quantity of sample
dried in an air oven at 110°C to a fixed weight. taken for determination of loading.

ANNEX D

( Clause 5.2.1 )
DETERMINATION OF SHELLAC

Percentage of shellac = 100 - ( pe rcentage of loading + percentage of rosin ).

ANNEX E

( Clause 5.2.1 )
DETERMINATION OF PITCH CONTENT

E-I PROCEDURE Collect the powder and dry in air and finally in
E-l.1 Powder 50 g of sample to 425 micron an air-oven at 55-60°C for two hours to a
( 40 mesh ) size. Mix properly. Weigh accurately constant weight. The difference between the 6rst
about 2 g sample and wrap it in Whatman filter and second weights gives the weight of pitch
paper No. 1 or its equivalent as described in the content. The residual solid material is then ex-
method for determination of hot alcohol insoluble tracted in the same apparatus with ethyl alcohol
( Clause 6 of IS 6921. : 1973 ) and extract with as is done for estimation of hot alcohol insoluble
Benz01 ( Benzene 84 percent, Xylene 13 percent, in shellac. The difference between second and
Toluene 3 percent ) in Soxhlet apparatus for 2 third weight ~111 give the quantity of shellac and
hours as mentioned in the said method of test. rosin present. The residue is loading material.

ANNEX F
( Clauses 5.5 and 5.6 )
ADHESION AND IMPRESSION TEST

F-l OUTLINE OF THE METHOD F-2 STANDARD DIE

F-l.1 The adhesion of sealing wax is determined F_,z,I A suitable standard die made of brass shall
by making seals with a standard die ( see F-2 ) be used. The die shall have the following charac-
upon appropriate specified surfaces and by testing teristics:
them according to the procedure prescribed
under F-3. a) Round pattern of about 20 mm diameter;

3
IS 868 : 1990

b) Capital letters and digits of IO point size, surface on which it has been applied over a
and small letters of 12 Doint size engraved cylinder of about 60 mm diameter.
to a depth of about 0’2 ~nm ( see F-2.i.l ).
F-3.4 Keep one of the seals under orjinnry at-
F-2.1.1 Recommended letters and digits arc mospheric conditions for 15 days.
A F G 1 Q R S X, ;I e f g I III p r and 2 3 4 8 9.
F-4 CRLTERION FOR JUDGEMENT
F-3 PROCEDU NE
F-4.1 There shall be no appreciable devtation in
F-3.1 Condition the p.~pcr or the appropriate colour oi the seai from the original.
material on whidi the seals are to be made by
keeping at room atmosphere for at least one hour F-4.2 The wax shall not stick to the die and the
before the test. Affix the seals under the approxi- lines engraved thereon shali appear distinctly on
mate tem!)erature conditions at which the scall::g the seal.
wax is to be used.
F-4.3 Embossed, particularly raised, letters shall
F-3.1.1 Heat up the stick on a flame so as to make
be distinct and unbroken, and 110 grit or lump
it I1014 freely, or melt the material in a pot at
shall appear on the surface of the seal.
130f5 c.
p-4.4 In the bending test ( see F-3.3 ), for seals
F-3.2 Spread the materi, w,lile still hot over the of Grade 1
, aI1 the fragments into which the seal
surface to which the seal is to be applied, press
may break shall remain firmly adhered to the
the polished brass die and remove almost
paper or other surface used. For seals of Grade
immediately. Make ttfree separate Impressions.
2. a few pieces round the edge of the seal may
F-3.2.1 For Grade I the die shall be broqht at break off, but no portion of the essential part of
room temperature prior to its use and shall not be the seal shall come off and it should 0111~ be
moistened with water. For Grade 2 the die shall possible to remove fragments adhering to the
be moistened with water at room tcinpcrntcre surface by actually tearmg off the fibrrs of the
before pressing. surface used for the test.

F-3.3 Allow the seal to cool at least 6 hours at F-4.5 The seal shall develop no spontaneous
room temperature. Bend the seal together with cracks when tested as prescribed under- F-3.4.

ANNEX G

( Clause 5.7 )
HEAT RESISTANCE TEST

G-l OUTLINE OF THE METHOD prescribed under F-3.1 and F-3.2. AIIow the seals
to cool for not less than 2 hours at room tempe-
G-l.1 The t&t is carried out by lleating the seals rature, Keep 3 seals in an air-oven maintained at
affixed on a glass plate or paper for 5 hours in a the appropriate temperature ( see G-l.1 ) for 5
hot air-oven at 55 & 0’5°C for Grade 1 and at hours. Cool to room temperature for at leazt
60 rf; 0’5’C for Grade 2. 30 minutes and compare the impressions with
those that have not been subjected to the test.
G-2 PROCEDZJRE G-2.2 The sealing wax shall be taken to have
satisfied the requirements of the test, if the
G-2.1 Make 4 or 5 seals of the wax under test on embossing on the seals remains clear and legible
glass plates or paper using the die and the method without smudge after the test.

4
 IS 868 : 1990

ANNEX H
( Clause 5.8 )

RESISTANCE TO HEAT POLYMERIZATION

H-l OUTLINE OF METHOD tube and dip the later in an oil-bath maintained
at 130&5”C. Stir the molten mass from time to
H-l.1 The test is carried out by heating the time with a glass rod.
seating wax of Grade I and Grade 2 at 130f5”C
for 23 hours. H-2.2 The material shall be taken to have satis-
fied the requirement of the test if, at the end of
H-2 PROCEDURE
2$ hours, the sealing wax does not turn spongy or
H-2.1 Place 10 g df the material in a dry test rubbery or become infusible.

ANNEX J

( Clause 7.1 )
SAMPLING OF SEALING WAX

J-l DRAWING OF SAMPLES J-l.5 The date of sampling, the number of

packages sampled and the name and trade mark,
J-1.x Only original, unopened packages of sealing if any, of the vendor and month and year of
wax shalf be sampled.
manufacture shall be given on a label attached to
J-l.2 Five to ten percent of the packages selected each sample.
at random from each lot shall be sampled. For
this purpose, a lot shall not exceed 100 packages.
J-1.6 Half the quantity of sample shall be bottled
J-l.3 Total quantity of sample shall be not less as stated above, sealed and treated as ‘reserve’
than 1 kg. sample for future reference. A part of the ‘reserve’
J-l.4 The samples shall be otored in screw-cap sample shall be handed over to the supplier under
jars of glass. seal.
Bureau of Indian Standards

BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Zndiun Standards Act, I986 to promote
harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods
and attending to connected matters in the country.
Copyright

BIS has the copyright of all its publications. No part of these publications may be reproduced in any form
without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This does not preclude the free use, in the course of
implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade designations.
Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications), BIS.
Review of Indian Standards

Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are also
reviewed periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review indicates that
no changes are needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken up for revision. Users
of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by
referring to the latest issue of ‘BIS Handbook’ and ‘Standards Monthly Additions’.

This Indian Standard has been developed from ~~~ : Ko. CHD 22 ( 9677 )

Amendments Issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue Text Affected

-

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