What Is Wax Made From?
Wax is a natural or synthetic substance that is solid at room temperature but melts at higher temperatures. It is typically pliable and malleable when warm. The main chemical constituents of natural waxes are fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, hydrocarbons, and fatty acids. Common sources of wax include paraffin wax from petroleum, beeswax from honeycomb, and plant-based waxes from carnauba palms, candelilla shrubs and soybeans.
Waxes have a wide range of uses and applications. They are primarily used to make candles, protect and preserve surfaces, lubricate, waterproof, polish, and add texture and shine. Different types of waxes have unique melting points, hardness, and properties that make them suitable for specific purposes.
This article will provide an overview of the major types of waxes, their sources, characteristics, and uses.
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honey bees. Worker bees have special glands on their abdomen that convert honey into beeswax. The bees consume honey and then through a series of chemical reactions, the wax is secreted in thin sheets from glands on the bee’s abdomen. These sheets can be found on the bottom of the bee or on the walls inside the beehive and are used by bees to build the comb that stores honey and houses the bee larvae [1].
The wax comes out as thin scales from the bee’s abdomen and these scales can range in color from almost clear to yellow or brown. The color is dependent on plant sources, time spent in the comb, and contamination from pollen or propolis. The wax scales are chewed and molded by worker bees into hexagonal cells to store honey, pollen, and house larvae. It takes about 8 pounds of honey consumed to create 1 pound of wax. As it is secreted, beeswax has a soft pliable texture but it quickly hardens into comb once exposed to air [2].
Beeswax has a number of uses for humans. It is used in food, cosmetics, candles, art, wood polish, and more. It is valued for its protective, emulsifying, and lubricating properties as well as its sweet scent. Beeswax is edible and safe for human consumption.
Paraffin Wax
Paraffin wax is a petroleum-based wax produced as a byproduct from lubricating oil. Slack wax, which is a combination of oil and wax, is separated from lubricating oil during the refining process. The slack wax is then further refined to produce paraffin wax (1).
Paraffin wax is made up of saturated hydrocarbons, which are derived from petroleum. It has a crystalline structure and is a white or colorless soft solid. Paraffin wax has a melting point between 47°C and 64°C (2).
Some key properties of paraffin wax include:
- It has excellent thermostatic properties and a wide melting point range
- It is highly malleable and can be easily molded when melted
- It is odorless and non-toxic
Some common uses of paraffin wax include candles, cosmetics, polishes, electrical insulators, and food preparations. It is commonly used in massage candles because it melts at body temperature. Paraffin wax is also commonly used in skin softening products due to its emollient properties (3).
(1) https://www.crownoil.co.uk/guides/paraffin-guide-uses-history-more/
(2) https://www.leaf.tv/12172498/how-is-paraffin-wax-made/
(3) https://www.quora.com/How-is-paraffin-wax-made
Soy Wax
Soy wax is made from hydrogenated soybean oil. The soybeans are first cleaned, cracked, flattened, and then undergo solvent extraction with hexane to separate the oil. The oil then goes through hydrogenation, where hydrogen is added to the oil in the presence of a catalyst like nickel. This hydrogenation process converts the unsaturated oil into a waxy solid at room temperature. The more hydrogenation, the harder the wax. After hydrogenating, the wax is refined and deodorized.1
Some key properties of soy wax are that it has a lower melting point than other waxes, making it ideal for containers and melts. It also holds fragrance oil well. The wax burns cleanly, is non-toxic, and biodegradable. Soy wax is commonly used for candles, particularly container candles, wax melts, massage bars, lip balms, and more.
Palm Wax
Palm wax is made from palm oil, which is extracted from the fruit of palm trees. To produce palm wax, the fruit is first crushed to extract the pulp. The pulp is then boiled, and the wax separated and refined. Compared to other waxes, palm wax has a high melting point of 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. It is hard and brittle at room temperature. Palm wax contains no paraffin and is composed of fatty esters, fatty acids, and fatty alcohols 1.
One of the main uses of palm wax is in candle making. It is often blended with other waxes like soy, paraffin, or beeswax. Palm wax helps harden the candle and allows it to burn longer. The high melting point gives candles a smooth finish. Palm wax is also used to make vegan lip balm and lotion bars. Compared to paraffin, palm wax is considered more environmentally friendly. However, the palm oil industry has raised sustainability concerns over deforestation and habitat loss 2.
Carnauba Wax
Carnauba wax, also called Brazil wax or palm wax, comes from the leaves of the Copernicia prunifera palm, which is native to northeastern Brazil (source). The palm leaves are dried, beaten, and then the wax is extracted from them through further processing.
Carnauba wax is considered one of the hardest natural waxes and has a very high melting point of around 180-190°F. It consists of fatty acid esters and saturated long chain aliphatic hydrocarbons. Due to its molecular composition, carnauba wax exhibits many useful properties including high gloss, enhanced durability, water repellency, and resistance to corrosion. These properties make it ideal for a variety of applications.
Some common uses of carnauba wax include car waxes, furniture polishes, floor polishes, dental floss, cosmetics, pharmaceutical coatings, and even food products like candy coatings and chewing gum. Carnauba wax is often blended with other waxes, oils, and emulsifiers to optimize its properties for different uses. It provides a protective coating and creates a glossy and smooth finish.
Candelilla Wax
Candelilla wax is extracted from the leaves of the small Candelilla bush found in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States (https://chempri.com/en/insights/waxes). To produce candelilla wax, the leaves of the candelilla shrub are boiled, which separates the wax from the plant material (https://naturallybalmy.co.uk/products/candelilla_wax).
Candelilla wax has a higher melting point than beeswax, making it harder and more brittle. It is often used as a substitute for carnauba wax and beeswax. Candelilla wax has good film-forming properties and adds hardness and shine to products like lip balms, lotions, creams, and polishes. It is also used as a glazing agent for chewing gum.
Candelilla wax is vegan, which makes it popular in natural cosmetics. It also has emulsifying properties, allowing oils and water to mix together smoothly. Overall, candelilla wax is a versatile plant-based wax with unique properties that make it useful for a variety of applications.
Microcrystalline Wax
Microcrystalline waxes are produced as part of the petrolatum refining process. According to Wikipedia, “Microcrystalline waxes are a type of wax produced by de-oiling petrolatum, as part of the petroleum refining process. In contrast to the more familiar paraffin wax which contains mostly unbranched alkanes, microcrystalline wax contains a higher percentage of isoparaffinic (branched) hydrocarbons and naphthenic hydrocarbons.”
BlendedWaxes.com explains the production process further: “During the petroleum refining process, the heavier waxes are separated from the lighter oils. The wax undergoes additional processing called ‘sweating’ which involves filtering and agitating the wax while it is heated to a semi-molten state. This process removes additional residual oil and debris from the wax, leaving behind a very pure form of microcrystalline wax.”
Microcrystalline wax has a low melting point and is more flexible than paraffin wax. It is often used in cosmetic products, automobile polishes, paints, and adhesives due to its binding properties. It can also be used to make candles and votives. However, some concerns have been raised about potential toxicity from impurities.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcrystalline_wax
Petrolatum
Petrolatum is a purified mixture of semisolid hydrocarbons obtained from petroleum. It is commonly known by the consumer as petroleum jelly. Petrolatum is produced by the fractional distillation of petroleum, with the lighter fractions separated first before removing the heavier waxy paraffins. The paraffin wax is then treated to remove odor and color. After purification, it results in a jelly-like semisolid substance that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. According to the FDA, petrolatum meets the requirements of the National Formulary monograph. It is recognized for use in foods by the FDA 21CFR172.880 and by the USDA 9CFR318.7.
Petrolatum’s unique properties like its hydrophobic water-resistant occlusive barrier, helps prevent moisture loss and drying of the skin. Thus, petrolatum finds widespread use as an ingredient in skin moisturizers and other cosmetics, protective creams, ointments, lip care and lip balms, and anti-aging products. When used as an ointment base, the occlusive and emollient properties allow delivery of the medicament to the identified affected area.
Conclusion
In summary, wax comes from a variety of natural sources. The most common types are beeswax, paraffin wax, soy wax, palm wax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax, microcrystalline wax, and petrolatum.
Beeswax is produced by honey bees and has been used for centuries in candle making. It burns cleanly and has a pleasant natural scent. Paraffin wax is a petroleum byproduct that became popular in the mid-1800s as a cheaper alternative to beeswax. It burns consistently but can produce more smoke and odor.
Soy wax is made from soybean oil and is often blended with other waxes. It is an environmentally friendly option that burns slowly and cleanly. Palm wax comes from palm trees and is hard and opaque. Carnauba wax is derived from palm leaves and is very hard with a high melting point.
Candelilla wax comes from a desert shrub and is vegan. It helps harden vegetable oil-based waxes. Microcrystalline waxes are byproducts of petroleum refining and help modify the crystal structure of other waxes. Finally, petrolatum is a petroleum jelly useful for waterproofing.
In choosing a wax, factors like scent, melting point, hardness, burning properties, price, and environmental impact should be considered for the specific application.
