Petroleum Waxes

wax, n – a crystalline, plastic solid or semi-solid material at 25°C (77°F) consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons and/or hydrocarbon derivatives that, typically at temperatures equal to or greater than 40°C (104°F), melts and becomes a low viscosity liquid. Waxes may be of mineral (particularly petroleum), vegetable, animal (including insect), or synthetic origin.

Petroleum Waxes include the following types:

Slack Wax – Semi-refined petroleum derived waxes containing greater than 5% oil by weight, having less than +16 Saybolt color values. Melt points of this wax type are usually less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scale Wax – Also referred to as Crude Scale wax or White Refined Scale Wax. These waxes usually have improved color values and melting ranges from 105 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil content is in the range of 1 – 2% by weight. These waxes tend to be softer than fully refined paraffins and very plastic like.

Fully Refined Paraffin – This category of petroleum wax receives the highest degree of refining. Most of these waxes have been severely hydrotreated in order to provide the greatest level of purity in terms of color value and stability. These waxes will have melt points in the range of 122 – 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and oil contents of 0.05% or less. Color values will be +25 to +30 Saybolt, or nearly water white. FRP’s are usually categorized as Low Melt (130 °F), Mid Melt (140 °F), or High Melt (150 °F). Paraffin waxes can then be custom blended to achieve a specific melt point as required by application.

Microcrystalline Wax – Its characteristics resemble those of the natural waxes closely, including its high melting point, high viscosity, flexibility at low temperatures, and high cohesion and adhesion. Micro waxes can be either soft and ductile, or, firm and brittle. Melting points range from 145 – 200+ degrees Fahrenheit. Color values include Black, Brown, Amber, Yellow, Ivory, and White. Micro waxes can be used as substitutes for natural waxes. Other applications include hot melt adhesives, chewing gum base, candle additives, laminating paper and foils, and polishes.

Petroleum Wax Blends – Products of this category are truly specialties. Through skillful product and application knowledge, a variety of waxy raw materials and other additives can be combined for a specific application. Please consult your Clarus representative to gain more information on how you might benefit from a tailored product for your application.

Tips on finding the right product:

• CSP – products with this prefix are straight paraffin’s (no additives) followed by a typical melt point in Fahrenheit. If followed by “M” – wax is a consistent mottling wax.
• CSB – The “B” denotes a blended wax product.
  • Stasis – (Latin for Stable) is our trade name for container candle blends.
  • Noble – our trade name for votive candle blends.
  • Majestic – our trade name for Pillar candle blends.
  • Braidcoat – our trade name for wick wax blends.
• CSM – The “M” denotes a microcrystalline wax.

Custom Wax blends

Clarus Specialty Products offers custom wax blends to suit almost any applications. Paper and board coatings, specialized candle blends, wick coatings, cosmetics and hair care products, just to name a few. Contact your Clarus sales representative for more information on your needs or application.

WAX FAQs

Weight

One Metric Tonne = 2,204.6 US pounds

US Ton = 2,000 pounds

One US pound = 0.454 kilograms

One Kilogram (kg) = 2.2046 US pounds

One gallon of paraffin wax weighs approximately 6.75 pounds.

One gallon of microcrystalline wax weighs approximately 7.00 pounds.

Temperature

Degrees Fahrenheit (°F) to Degrees Centigrade (°C)

– [9/5 (°C)] + 32

Degrees Centigrade (°C) to Degrees Fahrenheit (°F)

– 5/9 (°F – 32)

Typical Petroleum Wax Quality Control Test Methods

ASTM D-87	Melting Point, Cooling Curve
ASTM D-938	Melting Point, Congeal
ASTM D-127	Melting Point, Drop Point
ASTM D-3121	Needle Penetration
ASTM D-721	Oil Content, % Weight
ASTM D-1500	Color indication, 0.0 to 8.0 (Black)
ASTM D-156	Saybolt Color Value, -16 (Off White) to +30 (Water White)
ASTM D-88	Viscosity, SUS @ 210 °F – A range of 36 to 50 for paraffin
ASTM D-445	Viscosity, cSt @ 210 °F – A range of 2.9 to 7.5 for paraffin