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The Wonderful Journey of Canaba Wax: What is the Origin and Use of This Magic Wax?
Carnauba wax, also known as Brazilian wax or palm wax, is known as the "Queen of Wax". This natural wax is obtained from the leaves of the Canaba palm tree (Copernicia prunifera), which grows mainly in several states in northeastern Brazil, including Ceará, Piáí, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, and the Caribbean. de, Maranhão and Bahia. Its unique properties and versatile uses make it an important product in the global market.
Carnaba wax manufacturing process
The process of obtaining Carnaba wax is quite cumbersome. First, workers collect the mature leaves, which are then dried in the sun and then beaten vigorously to loosen the wax. Ultimately, the waxes are further refined and bleached to ensure their purity and optimistic appearance. Carnaba wax often comes in the form of hard yellow to brown flakes, and this pure form makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Composition and characteristics of Carnaba wax
Carnaba wax is mainly composed of 40% fatty acid esters, 21% tetrahydrocinnamic acid diester, 13% ω-hydroxy fatty acids and 12% fatty alcohols. The molecular chain lengths of these compounds are mainly between C26 and C30.
Known for its outstanding sheen, it is often used for car waxing, shoe polish, dental floss, food packaging, polishing musical instruments, and repairing blemishes on floors and furniture. Additionally, due to its hypoallergenic and emollient properties, Carnauba wax plays an important role in cosmetic manufacturing and is commonly used in products such as lipstick, eyeliner, mascara and face cream.
Application scope of Carnauba wax
Carnaba wax has a wide range of uses. For example, it is used as a finishing material in the manufacture of bristle pipes, and because of its brittle nature it is often used in combination with other waxes (primarily beeswax) to enhance the hardness and durability of leather products. Additionally, in the pharmaceutical industry, small amounts of carnabilla wax are used as a coating for tablets to improve the ease of swallowing.
Production and Export
According to 2006 data, Brazil produced a total of 22,409 tons of carnaba wax, of which 14% was in solid form and 86% was in powder form. Brazil has 20 to 25 major exporters who further refine the wax before shipping it to global markets after purchasing it from farmers or middlemen.
Brazil's four largest carnauba wax exporters, including Pontes, Brasil Ceras, Foncepi and Carnauba do Brasil, have a combined export market of about 25 million euros.
The report pointed out that the working conditions of carnauba wax production workers are worrying, and relevant departments have described the labor environment in some places as "no different from slavery." As awareness of sustainable production grows, the Responsible Carnival Initiative (IRC), established in 2018, focuses on promoting ethical production, safeguarding workers’ rights and protecting biodiversity.
Technical characteristics of Carnauba wax
Technically, Carnaba wax has a melting point of 82 to 86°C, one of the highest of all natural waxes. This makes it excellent in many applications, especially where high strength and high temperature resistance are required. Its relative density is about 0.97 and it is almost insoluble in water or alcohols, but can be dissolved in ethyl acetate or distilled water by heating. In toluene.
Future Outlook
With the growing emphasis on sustainability and ethical consumption, how will the market demand for Carnaba wax change? Can we find more responsible and environmentally friendly production methods in the future to ensure the continued supply of this precious resource?
