MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX

Hard microwaxes

Plastic microwaxes

Bright stock slack waxes (petrolatum)

Depending on the degree of refining, microwaxes are divided into the following classes:

Physical Properties: Microcrystalline waxes are insoluble in water and most organic solvents at room temperature. They are moderately to readily soluble in solvents such as chlorohydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, xylene, solvent naphtha, and turpentine oil, especially at elevated temperature. Solubility decreases markedly as molar mass increases. Solvents and oils are retained very strongly by microcrystalline waxes and therefore evaporate very slowly. The quality of some consumer products, such as petroleum jellies or floor and shoe polish, is determined by this retention capacity of microwaxes.

Chemical Properties: Microwaxes are more reactive than paraffin waxes because of the higher concentration of complex branched hydrocarbons with tertiary and quaternary carbon atoms. These CC bonds are not very thermally stable (i.e. the waxes darken and resinify) on prolonged heating. In addition, they form black tar like substances on contact with aggressive chemicals such as concentrated sulfuric acid or antimony pentachloride.

The reaction of microwaxes with oxygen at elevated temperature and in the presence of catalytically acting heavy-metal soaps is used for the production of oxidized microwaxes.

Product Classes:

Chemical Composition: Like paraffin waxes, microcrystalline waxes consist of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons that are predominantly solid at room temperature, such as n- and isoalkanes, naphthenes, and alkyl- and naphthenes-substituted aromatics. Unlike paraffin waxes, isoparaffins and naphthenic compounds predominate here. The microcrystalline structure can be explained by the presence of strongly branched isoparaffins and naphthenes, which inhibit crystallization.

Microcrystalline waxes originate from vacuum residues and from the sediments of paraffinic crude oil (settling waxes). Waxes that are liquid at room temperature are mostly contained in diesel oil or gas oil fractions and can be isolated from them.

Due to the presence of complex branched hydrocarbons with tertiary and quaternary carbon atoms, these waxes are more responsive to any chemical precess. In case of a long heating process in any chemical test, these waxes make a physical transformation into black tar like substances on contact with aggressive chemicals such as concentrated sulfuric acid or antimony pentachloride.

The physical properties of these waxes include: They are insoluble in water but attain a quick solvent property when tested with solvents such as chlorohydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, xylene, solvent naphtha, and turpentine oil. As these waxes have a high capacity to retain the solvents it is mixed with, thus resulting in a slow evaporation process, it helps in determining the quality standard of the product in which it is used. viz. petroleum jelly, shoe or floor polish etc.

The chemical composition of these microcrystalline waxes comprise of saturated hydrocarbons,  isoalkanes, naphthenes, and alkyl- and naphthenes-substituted aromatics.

Unlike the common Paraffin Wax, the Micro crystalline waxes are tougher, more flexible and have higher tensile strengths.

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