Wax 58256 222766209 2008-07-01T00:29:32Z 71.216.12.89 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 222442555 by [[Special:Contributions/84.70.124.238|84.70.124.238]] ([[User talk:84.70.124.238|talk]]) Removed section that did not meet Wikipedia writing standards. {{other}} {{onesource|article|date=February 2008}} <div class="references-small"></div>[[Image:Montana 10 bg 061905.jpg|thumb|Wax candle]] '''Wax''' has traditionally referred to a substance that is secreted by [[bee]]s ([[beeswax]]) and used by them in constructing their [[honeycomb]]s. It is an imprecisely defined term generally understood to be a substance with properties similar to [[beeswax]], namely *[[Plasticity (physics)|plastic]] ([[malleability|malleable]]) at normal ambient temperatures *a [[melting point]] above approximately 45 °C (113 °F) (which differentiates waxes from [[fat]]s and [[oil]]s) *a relatively low [[viscosity]] when melted (unlike many [[plastic]]s) *[[Solubility|insoluble]] in water *[[hydrophobic]] '''Waxes''' may be natural secretions of plants or animals, artificially produced by purification from natural petroleum or completely synthetic. In addition to [[beeswax]], [[carnauba]] (a plant [[epicuticular wax]]) and [[paraffin]] (a petroleum wax) are commonly encountered waxes which occur naturally. ''[[Earwax]]'' is an oily substance found in the human [[ear]]. Some artificial materials such as silicone wax that exhibit similar properties are also described as wax or waxy. [[Image:Beeswax foundation.jpg|thumb|Commercial honeycomb foundation, made by pressing beeswax between patterned metal rollers.]] ==Wax chemistry== Chemically, a wax is a type of [[lipid]] that may contain a wide variety of long-chain [[alkanes]], [[esters]], [[polyester]]s and hydroxy esters of long-chain [[primary alcohol]]s and [[fatty acid]]s. They are usually distinguished from [[fat]]s by the lack of [[triglyceride]] esters of [[glycerin]] (propan-1,2,3-triol) and three fatty acids. In addition to the esters that contribute to the high melting point and hardness of carnauba wax, the [[epicuticular wax]]es of plants are mixtures of substituted long-chain [[aliphatic]] [[hydrocarbon]]s, containing [[alkane]]s, fatty acids, primary and [[secondary alcohol]]s, [[diol]]s, [[ketone]]s, [[aldehyde]]s.<ref name=Baker>EA Baker (1982) Chemistry and morphology of plant epicuticular waxes. In The Plant Cuticle. Ed. DF Cutler, KL Alvin, CE Price. Academic Press. ISBN 0 12 199920 3</ref> Paraffin waxes are [[hydrocarbon]]s, mixtures of [[alkanes]] usually in a [[homologous series]] of chain lengths. == Uses of wax == Waxes are used to impregnate and coat paper and card, to waterproof it or make it resistant to staining, or to modify its surface properties. Waxes are also used in [[wood finishing|wax polishes]] for furniture and other [[wood]] products, [[shoe polish|footwear]] and vehicles, as mould release agents in [[fiberglass molding|mould making]], as a coating for [[edam (cheese)|Edam]] and [[gouda (cheese)|Gouda]] cheeses, and to waterproof leather and fabric. Wax has been used since antiquity as a temporary, removable model in [[lost-wax casting]] of [[gold]], [[silver]] and other materials. Waxes and hard fats such as [[tallow]] have long been use to make [[candle]]s, used for lighting and decoration in a number of religious traditions, including Christianity and Hinduism. [[Chanukah]], the Jewish Festival of Lights which centers on the lighting of candles, dates back to 165 [[BCE]]. There are several Biblical references to candles, and the Emperor Constantine is reported to have called for the use of candles during an Easter service in the 4th century CE. Candles continue to be used to by Christians in worship as symbols of the light of Christ. Candles have also played a role in paganism, in Wiccan ceremonies, and in modern humanist festivals. Wax candles were also used in [[secularity|secular]] life for lighting, signals in warfare, safety in travel and for time keeping, and are still in popular use today to provide soft lighting for meals and other social activities. Wax with coloured pigments added has been used as a medium in [[encaustic painting]], and is used today in the manufacture of [[crayon]]s and coloured [[pencil]]s. [[Carbon paper]], used for making duplicate [[typewriter|typewritten]] documents was coated with [[carbon black]] suspended in wax, typically [[montan wax]], but has largely been superseded by [[photocopier]]s and [[computer printer]]s. In another context, [[lipstick]] and [[mascara]] are blends of various fats and waxes coloured with pigments, and both [[beeswax]] and [[lanolin]] are used in other [[cosmetics]]. Also, the sports of surfing, [[skiing]], [[snowboarding]] and [[skateboarding]] often use wax to enhance the performance. See [[Mojo wax]]. ==Wax types== ===Animal waxes=== * [[Beeswax]] - produced by [[honey bee]]s * [[Chinese wax]] - produced by the [[scale insect]] ''Ceroplastes ceriferus'' * [[Shellac]] wax - from the [[lac insect]] ''Kerria lacca'' * [[Spermaceti]] - from the head cavities and blubber of the [[sperm whale]] * [[Lanolin]] (wool wax) - from the [[sebaceous glands]] of [[sheep]] * [[Ear wax]] - found in the [[human]] ear. ===Vegetable waxes===<!-- This section is linked from [[Saccharomyces cerevisiae]] --> * [[Bayberry wax]] - from the surface of the berries of the [[bayberry]] shrub, ''Myrica faya'' * [[Candelilla wax]] - from the Mexican shrubs ''[[Candelilla|Euphorbia cerifera]]'' and ''[[Candelilla|E. antisyphilitica]]'' * [[Carnauba wax]] - from the leaves of the [[Carnauba palm]], ''Copernica cerifera'' * [[Castor wax]] - catalytically hydrogenated [[castor oil]] * [[Esparto wax]] - a byproduct of making paper from [[esparto grass]], (''Macrochloa tenacissima'') * [[Japan wax]] - a vegetable [[triglyceride]] (not a true wax), from the berries of ''Rhus'' and ''Toxicodendron'' species * [[Jojoba oil]] - a replacement for [[spermaceti]], jojoba is pressed from the seeds of the [[jojoba]] bush, ''Simmondsia chinensis'' * [[Ouricury wax]] - from the Brazilian Feather [[Arecaceae|palm]], ''Syagrus coronata''. * [[Rice bran wax]] - obtained from [[rice]] [[bran]] (''Oryza sativa'') * [[Soy wax]] - from soybean oil. ===Mineral waxes=== * [[Ceresin wax]]es * [[Montan wax]] - extracted from [[lignite]] and [[brown coal]] * [[Ozocerite]] - found in lignite beds * [[Peat wax]]es ===Petroleum waxes=== * [[Paraffin wax]] - made of long-chain [[alkane]] [[hydrocarbon]]s * [[Microcrystalline wax]] - with very fine crystalline structure ===Synthetic waxes=== * [[Polyethylene wax]]es - based on [[polyethylene]] * [[Fischer-Tropsch wax]]es * [[Chemically modified wax]]es - usually [[esterification|esterified]] or [[saponification|saponified]] * [[substituted amide wax]]es * [[polymerized α-olefins]] == References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.cyberlipid.org/wax/wax0001.htm Waxes] * [http://www.igiwax.com www.igiwax.com, resource for wax product research] * [http://www.microcrystallinewax.net www.microcrystallinewax.net, resource for microcrystalline wax research] {{E number infobox 900-909}} [[Category:Waxes|Waxes]] [[ar:شمع]] [[ast:Cera]] [[bg:Восък]] [[ca:Cera]] [[cv:Ăвăс (çилĕм)]] [[cs:Vosk]] [[da:Voks]] [[de:Wachs]] [[es:Cera]] [[eo:Vakso]] [[fr:Cire]] [[gl:Cera]] [[io:Vaxo]] [[is:Vax]] [[it:Cera]] [[he:שעווה]] [[lt:Vaškas]] [[hu:Viasz]] [[nl:Was (substantie)]] [[ja:蝋]] [[no:Voks]] [[nn:Voks]] [[pl:Woski]] [[pt:Cera]] [[qu:Mapa]] [[ru:Воск]] [[scn:Cira (sustanza modda)]] [[simple:Wax]] [[sk:Vosk]] [[sr:Восак]] [[fi:Vaha]] [[sv:Vax]] [[uk:Віск]] [[ur:موم]] [[zh:蜡]]