Wax melting point: how to dissolve paraffin to a liquid state at home

Beeswax is a valuable substance produced by the wax glands of insects to build honeycombs. The composition is a multicomponent mass, which may have a white or yellow-brown hue and a characteristic honey aroma. Substance becomes lighter under the influence of sunlight. The melting point of wax is important to consider when making various cosmetics and other products.

Melting point

At a temperature of +35 degrees, beeswax is in a solid state.When the product is heated above this value, it acquires a plastic consistency. The average melting point of this mass is + 69-72 degrees. This range is associated with the presence of impurities in the composition and the method of obtaining raw materials:

1. The melting temperature of the plates, which are made directly by bees, is +72 degrees.
2. If the wax is obtained by melting and pressing, it changes its consistency at a temperature of +62-65 degrees.
3. Wax obtained by extraction is heated at +69-71 degrees.

When wax is heated to +95-100 degrees, foam appears on its surface. This is due to the presence of water in the composition. At +100 degrees, it begins to boil, which leads to the formation of foam. As the temperature of the mass increases, it is important to carefully monitor the process. If the wax contains a lot of moisture, it can boil away.

After the complete evaporation of the water in the wax, the foaming process stops. If the raw material does not contain soap, alkali or other impurities, it does not contain emulated water. As a result, foam will not form.

If the temperature exceeds +120 degrees, there is decomposition and evaporation of some components in the composition of the raw material. When the indicators reach + 250-300 degrees, the complete decomposition of the wax occurs. At this stage, the mass begins to burn. It is important to consider that wax vapors are considered highly flammable. This poses a fire hazard.

It is worth noting that natural beeswax has higher melting points than synthetic beeswax. Artificial material changes texture already at +45-60 degrees.

What wax dissolves in

There are quite a lot of liquids in which you can dissolve the product of beekeeping. When using them, it is important to take into account a number of features and nuances.

Alcohol

First, the alcohol and the wax mass must be heated, and this must be done separately. It is important to bear in mind that it is forbidden to bring substances to a boil. Then it is recommended to combine slightly heated products, mix well and put on low heat. The wax melts in just a few minutes. The result is a liquid mass that has a uniform consistency.

Turpentine

This substance is also an excellent solvent. At the same time, it is necessary to heat the mass in dishes that are not afraid of the influence of aggressive substances. An enamel container is quite suitable for this purpose. In order not to spoil the wax mass, it is recommended to add turpentine little by little. The finished product must be kept in the refrigerator.

Dioxane

It is quite possible to dissolve the wax in dioxane. This substance is a clear, colorless liquid that has a slight ethereal odor. The mass is highly flammable and easily mixes with water.

When using dioxane, make sure the room is well ventilated. Equally important is the use of personal protective equipment. When working with a chemical, you should use goggles, special overalls, gloves, a respirator.

Chloroform

To make wood coating paste, you can dissolve the wax in chloroform. However, this method is considered to be more time consuming. In this case, chloroform can not be heated. It is enough to take wax and fill it with a chemical. After that, you just need to wait for the melting of the mass. This procedure takes from several hours to a day.

To quickly bring paraffin to a liquid state at home, chloroform can first be heated in a water bath. After that, the resulting mass must be filled with beeswax. To enhance the effect, experts advise adding formic acid to the composition.You can also use acetone for this purpose.

Petrol

Natural wax can be completely dissolved in gasoline. And this can be done in different ways. In the first case, it is recommended to take gasoline and wax in a ratio of 1: 3. To achieve the desired results, you should do the following:

1. Clean solid raw materials from visible impurities and grind it.
2. Place the prepared product in a suitable container. It is best to use enamel or porcelain dishes.
3. Fill the contents of the container with gasoline. It is important that it completely covers the foundation.
4. Put the container in a dark place. It is recommended to keep out of the sun's rays.

After the complete dissolution of the bee product in gasoline, it will be possible to obtain a thick mass. At the same time, it should have a homogeneous consistency.

In the second case, the paraffin also needs to be cleaned and crushed. After that, it needs to be placed in a container and heated using a water bath. This must be done up to a temperature of + 60-70 degrees. When the mass acquires a soft consistency, gasoline should be added to the composition. It is recommended to do this in small portions.

Then the substance must be thoroughly mixed and poured into a glass container. It must have a tight-fitting lid. The disadvantage of this method is that the resulting composition cannot be stored for a long time. It needs to be used immediately. It is important to take into account that wax compositions made using chemical components are only allowed to be used externally.

Beeswax is a very valuable product of beekeeping. At the same time, it is characterized by a certain melting point.This must be taken into account when manufacturing various products based on wax. Different compositions can be used as solvents for this substance - alcohol, dioxane, chloroform, gasoline.

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