What are Waxes?
Waxes are a diverse class of organic compounds that are lipophilic and malleable solids near ambient temperatures. Depending on their source, their chemical composition and properties can greatly vary.
01
Petroleum Based Waxes
Petroleum based waxes such as paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax are obtained through the refining of crude oil. After crude oil is seperated into its fractions, the lubricating oil fraction is dewaxed to obtain these waxes. These waxes can further be refined to meet additional purity requirements.
02
Natural Waxes
Natural waxes are derived from plants, animals and minerals. They are composed of fatty acid esters, alcohols and hydrocarbons. Natural waxes vary significantly in hardness, melting point, and chemical composition, making them useful for specific industrial, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Common forms of natural waxes are beeswax, carnauba wax and lanolin.
03
Synthetic Waxes
Synthetic waxes are man-made waxes engineered through chemical processes such as polymerization, gas-to-liquid synthesis, or other chemical reactions. They typically consist of long-chain hydrocarbons, polyethylene, alpha-olefins, amides, or silicones, and are designed for specific properties like hardness, melting point, or lubricity. Commonly used synthetic waxes are Fischer-Tropsch waxes and Polyethylene waxes.