Waxes in general, are diverse class of organic compound. They repel water. Have soft waxy touch at ambient temperature. Waxes are insoluble in water but can be dissolved in organic non-polar solvents. Waxes are long Alkyl Chains and may include functional group such as Fatty Acids, Primary and Secondary Long Chain Alcohols, un-saturated bonds, Aromatic, Amides, Aldehydes and Ketones. Synthetic Waxes are characterized by long chain Hydrocarbons – say Alkanes or Paraffins.
The wax Types are:
• Plant Waxes e.g. Carnaua Wax.
• Animal Waxes. e.g. Lanolin, Bee Wax, Spermaceti.
• Modified Plant / Animal Waxes – using green chemistry approaches including Olefin-metathesis and enzyme reactions.
• Petroleum and Mineral derived waxes. e.g. Paraffin Waxes, Fossilized Waxes – Montan Wax.
• Synthetic Waxes. e.g. Polyethylene waxes, Poly Propylene Waxes, FT Waxes, PTFE Waxes, (monomer or syn.gas to polymeric waxes), Alpha Olefinic Waxes etc.
Our focus here would be SYNTHETIC POLYETHYLENE WAXES.