Welcome to my Digital World (Md. Mahbubur Rahman)

Chemically, a wax is a type of lipid that may contain a wide variety of long-chain alkanes, esters, polyesters and hydroxy esters of long-chain primary alcohols and fatty acids. They are usually distinguished from fats by the lack of triglyceride esters of glycerine (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 waxes of plants are mixtures of substituted long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbons, containing alkanes, fatty acids, primary and secondary alcohols, diols, ketones, aldehydes .Paraffin waxes are hydrocarbons, mixtures of alkanes usually in a homologous series of chain lengths.

Waxes are natural substances (animal or vegetable) or synthetic materials solid at ambient temperature (20C.-25C.). They are insoluble in water, soluble in oils and are capable of forming a water repellant film. These include Carnauba wax (extract of Copemrica Cerifera), Candelilla wax (extract of Euphobies Cerifera and Pedilantus pavonis), and Alfa wax(extract of Stipa tenacissima), Montan wax, polyethylene wax, paraffin wax, oxidized paraffin wax, ozokerite, vegetable waxes such as olive tree wax, rice wax, hydrogenated jojoba wax or absolute waxes of flowers such as the essential wax of cassis flower; animal waxes such as beeswax, or modified beeswax (cerabellina).

Rice Wax Formulation

• Water – 30-60%

• Petroleum –based solvents -15-40%

• Polishing abrasives) -10-30%

• Natural and/or synthetic waxes - 0-5%

• Silicone polymers - 0-5%

• Surfactants - 1-5%

• Additives - 0-3% (i.e. fragrance, thickeners, preservatives, etc.)

Chemical Composition

The main components of rice bran wax are aliphatic acids (wax acids) and higher alcohol esters. The aliphatic acids consist of palmitic acid (C16), behenic acid (C22), lignoceric acid (C24), other wax acids, (C26) etc. The higher alcohol esters consist of ceryl alcohol (C26), melissyl alcohol (C30), etc. Rice bran wax also contains constituents such as free fatty acids (palmitic acid), squalene and phospholipid.

Physical Properties

Melting point = 77 - 86 °C

Saponification value = 75 -120

Iodine number = 10

Color: Off-white to moderate orange/brown

Odor: typical fatty, crayola-ish

Rice bran wax bleaches and deodorizes readily

Rice bran Wax contain approximate 31% Rice bran oil (After Compressed)

Uses

1.     Rice bran wax is used paper coating

2.     textiles

3.     explosives

4.     fruit & vegetable coatings

5.     pharmaceuticals

6.     candles

7.     moulded novelties

8.     electric insulation

9.     textile and leather sizing

10.   waterproofing 

11.   carbon paper 

12.    typewriter ribbons 

13.    printing inks 

14.    lubricants 

15.    crayons 

16.    adhesives 

17.    chewing gum 

18.    cosmetics 

In cosmetics, rice bran wax is used as an emollient, and is the basis material for some exfoliation particles. It has been observed that rice bran wax at concentrations as low as 1 wt% in triglycerides can crystallize to form stable gels. It may also serve as a substitute for Carnauba wax.