Canary dextrin

Description

An impure form of Dextrin. Canary dextrin is made by hydrolyzing Starch at high temperatures (100-140C) for a long time in the presence of a small amount of acid. It is a light brown to yellow powder that is soluble in cold water. Canary, or yellow, dextrin forms a low viscosity solution that is typically prepared in concentrations of 50-60%. While not suitable as an artists material, yellow dextrin is commonly used as a water soluble adhesive on envelopes and postage stamps.

Synonyms and Related Terms

yellow dextrin; dextrina amarilla (Esp.); dextrina canaria (Esp.)

Resources and Citations

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)