iandol on thu 1 jun 00
Maggie Woodhead in New Zealand makes the following suggestion;-
We need a person with some knowledge of their origins to give us the =
right information.
So, I have had a look in my Dictionary of Science and my Organic =
Chemistry Made Simple and come up with the following information for you =
all about the nature of Paraffins, be they in the form of a wax or as an =
oil or as gas.
Paraffins are members of a homologous series (Uniform chemical type) of =
hydrocarbon compounds known as Alkanes. Alkanes have the general formula =
of CnH2n+2, and if you can=92t decipher that say, See en Aitch two en =
plus two. This means that for every Carbon atom there are twice as many =
Hydrogen atoms, then they add two more for good measure. I read these =
substances are the products of distillation of crude oil though some are =
derived from the destructive distillation of coal. Each member of the =
series has a distinctive melting point and boiling point. Those which =
have boiling points between =96161 and -88 Celsius are called Natural =
Gas. Bottled Gas boils between =9642C/0C. Boiling between 20C/70C you =
have Petroleum Ether. Boiling between 50C/200C Petrol or Gasoline, =
Boiling between 200C/300C Paraffin or Kerosine known as kerosene. =
Boiling above 300C, Gas Oil, Lubricating Oils and Waxes.
Those alkanes which are solids at room temperature and called paraffin =
waxes can have melting points as low as 50C and the actual melting point =
or melting range will depend upon the degree of purity or upon the =
proportions of a variety of different homologues. Candle wax tends to =
have a lower melting point and microcrystalline wax has a higher melting =
point and is harder when set. So Baby oil, mineral oil and liquid =
paraffin seem to be derived from sweet light crude. Though Benzine is =
suggested as a thinner I would not use it. Some one may be able to tell =
us its flash point temperature.
I use a microcrystalline wax. This seems to shed water based glaze much =
better than candle wax or bees wax. Some student somewhere must have =
done some research into the best wax to use. Perhaps they would be kind =
enough to share their empirical knowledge.
Ivor Lewis. Still questing for knowledge.
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