Natural and Synthetic Waxes

Natural and Synthetic Waxes A compilation of all relevant information for the production and use of waxes in technical applications Waxes are among the oldest organic substances used by mankind. Before all others, beeswax is known to have played a role in human history for thousands of years. But over time, many other wax species have been detected and exploited, and prepared for different utilizations. Today, we possess knowledge of a great variety of different types of waxes. Unfortunately, there still is no broadly accepted definition of a wax: for the relatively few wax chemists, waxes are usually defined by their physico-chemical properties more than by their chemical constitution. Waxes are not uniform but oligomeric and polymeric substances, not simply describable with a chemical formula. The realm of waxes encompasses fully or partly natural, refined, partly or fully synthetic products, which can be extended by wax-like products which do not fulfil all definition criteria. Waxes are offered in different forms like pellets, granules, powders, or micropowders. Their number of technical applications runs into thousands. However, waxes in most cases are just adjuvants or additives, and with few exceptions like candles not known to a broader public. Only few publications over the last decades tried to present a more comprehensive overview of heir chemistry, chemical composition, their physical and analytical properties, their applications, and their sometimes astonishing history. Based on personal experience and expertise, the authors intend to present an overview on the main classes of waxes, their origin, history, future, and potential fate. Economical aspects like market size and development, ecological impacts and challenges, and regulatory issues are also addressed. Waxes are indispensable products in everyday life and in industry and technology, though mostly not even visible or distinguishable to experts. They deserve more than the role of a poor cousin in chemistry and technology.

With over 20 years of experience as technology and R&D manager in the industry, Ernst Krendlinger collates here all the relevant information on basic wax properties and processing technologies otherwise scattered across the literature and company brochures.After a general introduction, he provides an overview of the chemistry of waxes including their composition, molecular structure and analysis. In addition, he discusses such physical properties as carbon chain length distribution, dropping point and acid number. Subsequent chapters deal with synthetic waxes from Fischer-Tropsch processes, paraffin and amide waxes as well as diverse wax blends and emulsions, summarizing how these waxes are produced and applied. The final chapter looks at natural waxes and their technical importance in industry, covering their production, properties and market situation.This only up-to-date reference on the topic is essential reading in terms of the physical data as well as parameters and correlations, combining all the information necessary for the analysis and application of synthetic and natural wax compounds.

1. Waxes in General2. Actual Definition of Waxes3. Chemistry and Physics of Waxes4. Synthetic Waxes5. Natural Waxes