‫وزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي‬

‫جامعة تكريت‬
‫كلية الهندسة‬
‫قسم الهندسة الكيمياوية‬

‫‪Paraffin and Paraffin Wax‬‬

‫اعداد الطالب‪ :‬عامر ابراهيم حمد‬

‫بأشراف‪ :‬الدكتور ايسر طالب جارالله‬

‫تاريخ تقديم التقرير ‪0202/6/8 :‬‬

 introduction:
Paraffins, also known as alkanes, are saturated compounds
that have the general formula CnH2n+2, where n is the
number of carbon atoms. The simplest alkane is methane
(CH4), which is also represented as C1. Normal paraffins
(n-paraffins or n-alkanes) are unbranched straightchain
molecules. Each member of these paraffins differs from
the next higher and the next lower member by a –CH2–
group called a methylene group (Table 2.2). They have
similar chemical and physical properties, which change
gradually as carbon atoms are added to the chain.
Isoparaffins (or isoalkanes) are branched-type
hydrocarbons that exhibit structural isomerization.
Structural isomerization occurs when two molecules have
the same atoms but different bonds. In other words, the
moleculeshave the same formulas but different
arrangements of atoms, known as isomers. Butane and all
succeeding alkanes can exist as straight-chain molecules
(n-paraffins) or with a branched-chain structure
(isoparaffins).
 Paraffin Wax:

Paraffin wax (or petroleum wax) is a soft colorless solid

derived from petroleum, coal or shale oil that consists of a
mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between
twenty and forty carbon atoms. It is solid at room
temperature and begins to melt above approximately 37
°C (99 °F), and its boiling point is above 370 °C (698 °F).
Common applications for paraffin wax include lubrication,
electrical insulation, and candles; dyed paraffin wax can
be made into crayons. It is distinct from kerosene and
other petroleum products that are sometimes called
paraffin. Un-dyed, unscented paraffin candles are
odorless and bluish-white. Paraffin wax was first created
by Carl Reichenbach in Germany in 1830 and marked a
major advancement in candlemaking technology, as it
burned more cleanly and reliably than tallow candles and
was cheaper to produce. In chemistry, paraffin is used
synonymously with alkane, indicating hydrocarbons with
the general formula CnH2n+2. The name is derived from
Latin parum ("barely") + affinis, meaning "lacking affinity"
or "lacking reactivity", referring to paraffin's unreactive
nature
 Properties:

Paraffin wax was first created in 1830 by the German

chemist Karl von Reichenbach when he tried to develop
the means to efficiently separate and refine the waxy
substances naturally occurring in petroleum. Paraffin
represented a major advance in the candlemaking
industry because it burned more cleanly and reliably and
was cheaper to manufacture than any other candle fuel.
Paraffin wax initially suffered from a low melting point;
however, this shortcoming was later remedied by the
addition of harder stearic acid. The production of paraffin
wax enjoyed a boom in the early 20th century as a result
of the growth of the meatpacking and oil industries which
created paraffin and stearic acid as byproducts.
 Manufacturing:
The feedstock for paraffin is slack wax, which is a mixture
of oil and wax, a byproduct from the refining of
lubricating oil. The first step in making paraffin wax is to
remove the oil (de-oiling or de-waxing) from the slack
wax. The oil is separated by crystallization. Most
commonly, the slack wax is heated, mixed with one or
more solvents such as a ketone and then cooled. As it
cools, wax crystallizes out of the solution, leaving only oil.
This mixture is filtered into two streams: solid (wax plus
some solvent) and liquid (oil and solvent). After the
solvent is recovered by distillation, the resulting products
are called "product wax" (or "press wax") and "foots oil".
The lower the percentage of oil in the wax, the more
refined it is considered (semi-refined versus fully refined).
The product wax may be further processed to remove
colors and odors. The wax may finally be blended
together to give certain desired properties such as melt
point and penetration. Paraffin wax is sold in either liquid
or solid form.
 Applications:
In industrial applications, it is often useful to modify the
crystal properties of the paraffin wax, typically by adding
branching to the existing carbon backbone chain. The
modification is usually done with additives, such as EVA
copolymers, microcrystalline wax, or forms of
polyethylene. The branched properties result in a
modified paraffin with a higher viscosity, smaller
crystalline structure, and modified functional properties.
Pure paraffin wax is rarely used for carving original
models for casting metal and other materials in the lost
wax process, as it is relatively brittle at room temperature
and presents the risks of chipping and breakage when
worked. Soft and pliable waxes, like beeswax, may be
preferred for such sculpture, but "investment casting
waxes," often paraffin-based, are expressly formulated for
the purpose. In a histology or pathology laboratory,
paraffin wax is used to impregnate tissue prior to
sectioning thin samples of tissue. Water is removed from
the tissue through ascending strengths of alcohol (75% to
absolute) and the tissue is cleared in an organic solvent
such as xylene. The tissue is then placed in paraffin wax
for a number of hours and then set in a mold with wax to
cool and solidify; sections are then cut on a microtome.
 Other uses:
 Candle-making
 Wax carving
 Bicycle chain lubrication
 Coatings for waxed paper or cloth
 Food-grade paraffin wax:
o Shiny coating used in candy-making; although edible,

it is nondigestible, passing through the body without

being broken down
o Coating for many kinds of hard cheese, like Edam

cheese
o Sealant for jars, cans, and bottles

o Chewing gum additive

 Investment casting
 Anti-caking agent, moisture repellent, and dustbinding
coatings for fertilizers
 Agent for preparation of specimens for histology
 Bullet lubricant – with other ingredients, such as olive oil
and beeswax
 Phlegmatizing agent, commonly used to
stabilise/desensitize high explosives such as RDX
 Crayons
 Solid propellant for hybrid rocket motors[22][23]
 Component of surfwax, used for grip on surfboards
in surfing
 Component of glide wax, used on skis and snowboards
 Friction-reducer, for use on handrails and cement
ledges, commonly used in skateboarding