Natural Waxes – Properties, Compositions and Applications

In general waxes are always a mixture of more or less hydrophobic organic substances of medium chain length. At 20 °C plastic up to hard and brittle, waxes will melt higher than 40 °C up to 140 °C without decomposition and will re-solidify unchanged. Solubility and consistency of waxes are strongly temperature depending.

Natural waxes are derived by biogenesis in a sustainable process and are physically refined without any chemical transformation. Hence natural waxes can be considered truly as natural resp. even organic (bio) in particular cases. Natural waxes show unrivaled well-balanced compositions leading to great performances for all kind of applications and offer exceptional properties in diverse systems in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food and household consumer goods. Especially properties refer to oil gelling and retention as well as to viscosity build-up and structuring. An array of different sensory profiles and textures can be achieved and surface gloss can be altered as well.

 

The complete article can be downloaded here: SOFW Journal, Issue 4/2011 (.pdf, 768 KB)