carnaúba wax

Carnaúba Wax

Technical Data• Carnaúba wax is also called Brazil wax or palm

wax and is the wax of the leaves of the palm, “Copernicia Prunifera”;

• It is a plant native to and grown only in the northeastern Brazilian states of Piauí, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte; 

• It is known as "queen of waxes” and usually comes in the form of hard yellow-brown flakes, obtained from the leaves of the Carnaúba palm by collecting and sun-drying them, beating them to loosen the wax, then refining and bleaching the wax.

Carnaúba

Carnauba palm

• Carnauba wax contains mainly esters of fatty acids (80-85%), fatty alcohols (10-16%), acids (3-6%) and hydro-carbons (1-3%);

• Melting point: 82–86 °C (180–187 °F), among the highest of natural waxes;

• It is among the hardest of natural waxes, being harder than concrete in its pure form;

• It is practically insoluble in water.

Carnaúba

Principal usesCarnauba wax produces a glossy finish and, as such, is used in making:• Waxes used on automobiles;• shoe polishes;• food products such as sweets; • instrument polishes;• floor and furniture waxes and polishes, especially

when mixed with beeswax and with turpentine;• coating on dental floss;• paper coatings;• surfboard wax, as the main ingredient (with

coconut oil added).

Cosmetic useBecause of its hypoallergenic and emollient properties together with its shine, Carnaúba wax appears as an ingredient in many cosmetic formulae where it is used to: • thicken lipstick;• eyeliner;• mascara;• eye shadow;• foundation;• deodorant;• various skin care preparations;• sun care preparations; • etc.

Use in FoodstuffIn foods, Carnaúba wax is used as a: • formulation aid;• lubricant;• release agent;• anti-caking agent;• a surface finishing agent in baked foods

and mixes;• chewing gum;• confections,;• frostings;• fresh fruits and juices;• gravies & sauces;• processed fruits & juices; • soft sweets

Other important uses• Pharmaceuticals - It is vitally important in the

pharmaceutical industry as a tablet-coating agent;

• Leather – Carnaúba wax is often combined with other waxes (principally beeswax) to treat and waterproof many leather products where it provides a high-gloss finish and increases leather's hardness and durability;

• Industry – it is compatible with epoxies and generally enhances their properties along with those of most other engineering plastics. Also,used as an aerosol mould release, formed by suspending Carnaúba wax in a solvent, which is used extensively in moulds for semiconductor devices;

• Used in computer chip manufacture.

Carnaúba – the future

None of these final products is

presently being manufactured in Brazil for export.

Therefore, there is every opportunity

to do so in theZPE do Sertão.

Pertinent information gratefully received from:

Társila Tawnee Caldas Limazpedosertao@hotmail.com.br