ammonium carbonate

ammonium carbonate

ammonium carbonate is an ammonia salt (baking powder also used in food) which is used for the manufacture of saponified wax (wall wax which can be diluted with water) from white beeswax and for the manufacture of casein paint, the latter needing an alkali to turn into a glue which is also called a binder. the white beeswax in granules thus transformed into saponified wax can therefore be liluted with water and be applied to any rigid and smooth support such as stucco lime plasters (not whitewashes), tadelakts which are not subject to runoff etc ... to make them shiny and protect them. It can also be used as a binder to make a decorative or artistic painting mixed with pigments.

ammonium carbonate is also used in the manufacture of casein paint from powdered casein by making it watery during mixing. This technique is used for furniture (it makes them at the same time unassailable by worms) but also for walls in decorative painting if it is mixed with pigments. the supports must be rigid, the casein film being very rigid and therefore brittle, unlike the rabbit skin glue.

for the manufacture of the saponified wax, you need 100gr of carbonate for 250gr of white beeswax and 2.5L of water

to prepare a casein paint with ammonium carbonate you need:

soak 50gr of casein in 200ml of distilled water. On the other hand, dilute 15gr of ammonium carbonate in a little distilled water to have a syrup let all this rest for about 30 minutes. then slowly add the carbonate mixture to the casein mixture while gently stirring then add 100ml of distilled water, still stirring to avoid lumps, until a homogeneous liquid is obtained. your binder is ready to receive the pigments and fillers previously diluted in distilled water. Do not overload the paint: 1/2 teaspoon for a bowl is sufficient. Light tones will darken when drying, and dark tones will lighten, depending on the coloring power of the pigments.