Revision as of 05:29, 14 July 2016

Description

Ozokerite is an amorphous hydrocarbon wax occurring naturally, in the earth, in Poland, Austria, Russia, Utah, and Texas among other places. it occurs in Miocene formations, near petroleum deposits. It is separated from earthy matter by melting in boiling water and then drawing off the upper wax layer. the crude wax is purified by treatment with sulfuric acid and bleaching earth to obtain lighter-colored products.

The commercial grades of ozokerite are:

1. Unbleached (Black)

2. Single bleached (Yellow)

3. Double bleached (White)

Ozokerite is characterized by its excellent absorbing power for oil, grease and certain solvents. In this respect, it is superior to paraffin wax which tends to crystallize from mixture and allows fluid components, present in the composition, to sweat out. It is waterproof, alkali- and acid-resistant, only fuming sulfuric and concentrated nitric acids attack it. Low temperatures do not make it so brittle as paraffin wax. It is not so slippery as paraffin wax and actually has a slight "tack". It becomes harder on aging. It is less resistant to actinic rays than paraffin wax. Ozokerite sets more rapidly and shrinks more than beeswax. To offset these properties Venice turpentine, or another plasticizer, is often added.

The chemical constitution of ozokerite is not definitely known. It appears to be a mixture of solid saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons of high molecular weight, with some liquid hydrocarbons and oxygenated bodies^[1].

Properties

^[2]

References

1. ↑ Bennett, H., Commercial Waxes, Second edition, p. 106
2. ↑ Bennett, H., Commercial Waxes, Second edition, p. 108