Synthetic Waxes: Innovation in Action

Synthetic Waxes are chemical products developed artificially by man, with the aim of reproducing the physical properties of vegetable, animal, mineral and petroleum waxes that exist normally in nature. As it occurs in many other industrial fields, the market share of Synthetic Waxes has experienced an accelerated growth from year to year.

There are different categories used to classify Synthetic Waxes, depending mainly on their basic functional groups. The most common Synthetic Waxes include long chain ethylene polymers, halogenated hydrocarbons, alkyl esters and polyhydric alcohol (polyol) esters, hydrogenated waxes, straight chain and cyclic ketones, amide derivatives from fatty acids, hydrocarbon reaction products, esters of fatty acids and derivatives from polyoxyethylene sorbitol, among others.

The Fischer-Tropsch Waxes are well known among the Synthetic Waxes category. They consist in hydrocarbons of very high molecular weight and melting point, and of great hardness. They are obtained as byproducts from a liquid fuel synthesis (gasoline and diesel) from carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂) by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction

Other products with a wide diversity of applications are the Polyethylene Waxes, obtained from the heating and cracking of high quality polyethylene resins.

Synthetic Waxes can be used in the production of polishes, gum base, crayons, adhesives, dyes, paints, hot melts, PVC extrusion, foundry and textile, among many more applications.

Properties of Synthetic Waxes

Notes:
Melting Point (ºF) by USP 741 Class II method (figures in red, ASTM D127). Penetration (dmm) ASTM_D1321.