Wax

Wax, moldable, water-repellent solid, of which there are several entirely different kinds. Animal waxes were the first known: Wool wax when purified yields lanolin; beeswax, from the honeycomb, is used for some candles and as a sculpture medium (by carving or casting); spermaceti wax, from the sperm whale, is used in ointments and cosmetics. Vegetable waxes, like animal waxes, are mixtures of esters of long-chain alcohols and carboxylic acids. Carnauba wax, from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree, is hard and lustrous and is used to make polishes; candelilla wax, from a wild Mexican rush, is similar but more resinous; Japan wax, the coating of sumac berries, is fatty and soft but also tough and kneadable. Mineral waxes include montan wax, extracted from lignite, which is bituminous and resinous; ozokerite, an absorbent hydrocarbon wax obtained from wax shales; and paraffin wax, or petroleum wax, the most important commercially, obtained from the residues of petroleum refining by solvent extraction. Some of its uses are to make candles, to coat paper products, in the electrical industry, and to waterproof leather and textiles. Various synthetic waxes are made for special uses.