Paraffin wax

Overview

Paraffin is a hydrocarbon mixture extracted from certain distillates of petroleum, shale oil, or other asphalt mineral oils. Its primary component is solid alkanes, which are odorless and tasteless, appearing as a white or pale yellow translucent solid. Paraffin wax is a mixture of normal-chain saturated alkanes of varying molecular weights, represented by the general formula CnH2n+2. Based on its physical state, paraffin wax can be divided into three categories: liquid paraffin, solid paraffin, and microcrystalline wax. Paraffin wax offers numerous advantages, including low cost, widespread availability, colorlessness, odorlessness, stable physical and chemical properties, and a high latent heat of phase change. Therefore, it is widely used in medicine, packaging, construction, military camouflage, industry, and agriculture. In recent years, there has been extensive research on composite phase change energy storage materials.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: White solid. Melting point 50°C-70°C, relative density 0.9, average carbon chain length C28-C29, relative average molecular weight 400: solid relative density 0.88-0.93 at 20°C, refractive index 1.526-1.535, liquid relative density 0.73-0.77 at 100°C, refractive index 1.418-1.433. Soluble in benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and camphor oil; insoluble in methanol, ethanol, and water.

Chemical Properties: White, hard block at room temperature. Translucent. Waxy, turns yellow under ultraviolet light. Crystalline. Almost tasteless and odorless. Slippery. Soluble in ether, petroleum ether, benzene, and volatile oils; insoluble in water and ethanol; slightly soluble in anhydrous ethanol. Relative density 0.88-0.915. Flammable. Uses: GB2760-96 allows its use as a gum base, with a limit of 50.0g/kg. It is also used abroad for anti-sticking in rice paper production, at a dosage of 6g/kg. It is also widely used in food packaging materials for moisture, anti-sticking, and oil resistance.

Uses: As a coating agent, my country stipulates that it can be used as a gum base, with a maximum usage of 50g/kg.

Uses: Used in rubber products, tarpaulins, matches, etc.; used in the production of synthetic fatty acids and higher alcohols; also used in the manufacture of matches, candles, wax paper, waterproofing agents, ointments, etc.; used in crayons, wax paper, telecommunications equipment, light industrial and chemical raw materials, wax model crafts, etc.

Uses: Used as a cosmetic raw material; also used in capacitors, electronic components, shoe polish, etc. White paraffin wax is primarily used as a raw material for candles, crayons, wax paper, matches, general telecommunications equipment, rubber products, polishing pastes, and other chemical raw materials. Refined paraffin wax is suitable for the production of high-frequency porcelain, carbon paper, stylus wax paper, cold cream, and precision casting. Food paraffin wax is suitable for use as a component in foods and oral medications, as well as for mold release, tableting, and polishing. Paraffin wax is suitable for coating and impregnation of containers and packaging materials that come into contact with food.

GB2760-96 stipulates that it is permitted for use as a gum base, with a limit of 50.0g/kg. It is also used overseas for anti-sticking in rice paper production, at a dosage of 6g/kg. Furthermore, it is widely used for moisture, anti-sticking, and oil-proofing food packaging materials. It is suitable for use as a component in chewing gum, bubble gum, and pharmaceutical products such as gold oil, as well as for heat transfer, mold release, tableting, and polishing applications that come into direct contact with food and medications. This wax is made from the waxy fraction of petroleum or shale oil through cold pressing.