Paraffin wax is a hydrocarbon mixture extracted from certain distillates of petroleum, shale oil, or other asphaltic mineral oils. Below is a detailed introduction to paraffin wax:

I. Main Components and Properties

Main Components: The primary components of paraffin wax are solid alkanes with the molecular formula CnH2n+2, where n ranges from 17 to 35, and the carbon atom count is approximately 18 to 30. The main constituents are straight-chain alkanes (accounting for about 80% to 95%), with a small amount of alkanes with individual branches and monocyclic alkanes with long side chains (together accounting for less than 20%).

Physical Properties: Paraffin wax is a white or light yellow translucent solid with no odor or taste. It is non-crystalline but exhibits a distinct crystalline structure. It melts at temperatures ranging from 47°C to 64°C and has a density of approximately 0.9g/cm3.

Chemical Properties: Paraffin wax is soluble in non-polar solvents such as gasoline, carbon disulfide, xylene, ether, benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, and naphtha. It is insoluble in water and polar solvents like methanol. Paraffin wax does not react with common chemical reagents but can be burned.

II. Classification and Uses

Classification: Based on the degree of refining, paraffin wax can be divided into three types: fully refined paraffin wax, semi-refined paraffin wax, and crude paraffin wax.

Fully Refined Paraffin Wax: It has a wide range of applications and can be used in the production and packaging materials of food, oral medications, and certain commodities.

Semi-Refined Paraffin Wax: It also has a wide range of applications, similar to fully refined paraffin wax.

Crude Paraffin Wax: Due to its higher oil content, it is primarily used in the manufacture of matches, fiberboard, and tarpaulins.

Uses: Paraffin wax can be used to make high-grade fatty acids, high-grade alcohols, matches, candles, waterproofing agents, ointments, electrical insulating materials, and more.

III. Sources and Preparation

Sources: Paraffin wax is a type of petroleum processing product and belongs to the category of mineral waxes and petroleum waxes.

Preparation: Paraffin wax is obtained as a sheet-like or needle-like crystal through solvent refining, solvent dewaxing, or wax freezing crystallization and press dewaxing of the lubricating oil fraction distilled from crude oil, followed by solvent deoiling and further refining.

IV. Precautions

Paraffin wax is classified into food-grade and industrial-grade. Food-grade paraffin wax is non-toxic and can be used in food and packaging materials, while industrial-grade paraffin wax is not for human consumption.

When using paraffin wax, attention should be paid to its melting point and intended use to select the appropriate type of paraffin wax to meet the requirements.

In summary, paraffin wax is an important hydrocarbon mixture with wide applications across multiple fields. Understanding its properties, classification, uses, and preparation process aids in better utilizing this resource.