Carnauba wax 1207205 226156860 2008-07-17T02:07:45Z Loukinho 461336 Reverted 1 edit by [[Special:Contributions/Gorgeoushart16|Gorgeoushart16]] identified as [[WP:VAND|vandalism]] to last revision by [[User:Metodicar|Metodicar]]. ([[WP:TW|TW]]) {{Unreferenced|date=June 2007}} '''Carnauba''' is a [[wax]] derived from the leaves of the [[carnauba palm]] (''Copernicia prunifera''), a plant native to northeastern [[Brazil]]. It is known as "queen of waxes"<ref>{{cite book |last=Parish |first=Edward J. |coauthors=Terrence L. Boos; Shengrong Li |editor=Casimir C. Akoh, David B. Min. |title=Food lipids: chemistry, nutrition, and biochemistry |edition=2nd ed. |year=2002 |publisher=M. Dekker |location=New York |isbn=0824707494 |pages=103 |chapter=The Chemistry of Waxes and Sterols }}</ref> and usually comes in the form of hard yellow-brown flakes. It is obtained from the leaves of the carnauba palm by collecting them, beating them to loosen the wax, then refining and bleaching the wax. ==Composition== Carnauba wax contains mainly [[ester]]s of [[fatty acid]]s (80-85%), [[fatty alcohol]]s (10-16%), acids (3-6%) and [[hydrocarbon]]s (1-3%). Specific for carnauba wax is the content of esterified fatty [[diol]]s (about 20%), hydroxylated [[fatty acid]]s (about 6%) and [[cinnamic acid]] (about 10%). Cinnamic acid, an [[antioxidant]], may be hydroxylated or methoxylated. ==Uses== Carnauba wax can produce a glossy finish and as such is used in [[automobile]] waxes, [[shoe polish]]es, food products such as candy corn, instrument [[polishing|polishes]], and floor and furniture [[polishing|polishes]], especially when mixed with [[beeswax]]. It is used as a coating on [[dental floss]]. Use for paper coatings is the most common application in the United States. It is the main ingredient in [[surfboard wax]], combined with [[coconut oil]]. Carnauba wax is a prominent ingredient in [[Cosmetics|cosmetics]] formulas: lipsticks, eyeliners, [[mascara]], eye shadows, foundations, blushers, skin care preparations, sun care preparations, etc.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} It is the finish of choice for most [[Tree heath|briar]] [[smoking pipe|pipes]]. It produces a high gloss finish when buffed on to wood. This finish dulls with time rather than flaking off (as is the case with most other finishes used.) In [[food]]s, it is used as a formulation aid, lubricant, release agent, anticaking agent, and surface finishing agent in baked foods and mixes, [[chewing gum]], confections, [[Icing (food)|frostings]], fresh fruits and juices, gravies, sauces, processed fruits and juices, soft [[candy]], [[Tic_Tacs|tic tacs]] and [[Altoids]]. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry as a tablet coating agent. In [[1890]], [[Charles Tainter]] patented the use of carnauba wax on [[phonograph cylinder]]s as a replacement for a mixture of [[paraffin]] and [[beeswax]]. When used as a mold release, carnauba, unlike [[silicone]] or [[PTFE]], is suitable for use with liquid epoxy, [[epoxy]] molding compounds (EMC) and some other plastic types. Carnauba wax is compatible with epoxies and generally enhances its properties along with those of most other engineering plastics. An aerosol mold release is formed by suspending carnauba wax in a solvent. This aerosol version is used extensively in molds for semiconductor devices. Semiconductor manufacturers also use chunks of carnauba wax to break in new epoxy molds or to release the plunger when it sticks. Carnauba is used in melt/castable explosives to produce an insensitive explosive formula to enhance safety of munitions. Used in munitions such as Composition B, which is an RDX/TNT blend. ==Technical characteristics== *[[INCI|INCI name]] is ''Copernicia Cerifera (carnauba) wax'' *[[E Number]] is E903. *melting point: 78-85 °C, among the highest of natural waxes. *relative density is about 0.97 *It is among the hardest of natural waxes, being harder than concrete in its pure form. *It is practically insoluble in water, soluble on heating in [[ethyl acetate]] and in [[xylene]], practically insoluble in [[ethyl alcohol]]. ==References== <!-- See [[Wikipedia:Footnotes]] for instructions. --> <references /> ==External links== *[http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/botanytextbooks/economicbotany/Copernicia/index.html Botanical description] - from the [[Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden]] *[http://detailingwiki.com/index.php5?title=Waxes Detailing Wiki - Waxes] {{E number infobox 900-909}} [[Category:Waxes]] [[Category:Food additives]] [[Category:Cosmetic chemicals]] [[de:Carnaubawachs]] [[es:Cera de carnaúba]] [[fr:Cire de carnauba]] [[it:Cera di carnauba]] [[hu:Karnauba viasz]] [[nl:Carnaubawas]] [[pl:Carnauba (wosk)]] [[sr:Карнауба восак]] [[sv:Karnaubavax]]