Paraffin
(from Latin parum “little” + affinis “related”) is a waxy mixture of saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes) of predominantly normal composition from C18H38 (octadecane) to C35H72 (pentatriocontane).
Melting point – from 45°C to 65°C;
Density – 0.880-0.915 g/cm³ (15 °C);
When heated above 90°C, paraffin in air begins to steam intensely without boiling. Dense paraffin vapors heated to 120-150°C spontaneously ignite upon contact with air.
Obtained mainly from petroleum.
Depending on the ratio of the concentrations of heavy and light hydrocarbons, paraffin can be liquid, solid and finely crystalline (ceresin).
Discovered by Carl von Reichenbach.
Compound
Paraffins are a mixture of solid hydrocarbons of the methane series, predominantly of normal structure, with 18-35 carbon atoms per molecule and a melting point of 45-65 °C. Paraffins usually contain some isoparaffin hydrocarbons, as well as hydrocarbons with an aromatic or naphthenic core in the molecule.
GOST 23683-89 establishes 10 grades of paraffin (P1, P2, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, T1, T2, C), differing in class and form of release:
- grades with index P are highly purified, intended for food production;
- brands with index B are highly purified with a narrower range of component weights, intended for non-food industries;
- grades with index T - purified technical paraffins;
- grade with index C is the so-called “match” paraffin, characterized by a high oil content and the lowest melting point.
The oil content in paraffin is standardized (0.8% for grade P2; 0.45% for all grades, excluding technical grades; over 1% for technical grades). The chemical composition of paraffins is standardized indirectly by melting point and microhardness (for grades of paraffins with the letter B, produced in the form of ingots).
Benefits of heating and cooling paraffin
So, we already know that the melting point of paraffin is fifty degrees. This figure is suitable for various cosmetic procedures, for example, the one discussed a little higher. Due to the fact that the skin temperature increases, blood flow also becomes faster. At the same time, the skin receives more oxygen and nutrients. When blood circulation increases, lymph flow will accordingly increase, that is, toxins will be eliminated. In addition, when the temperature is elevated, some toxic substances will come to the surface of the skin along with moisture.
When paraffin - this miracle of modern cosmetics - cools, it also has a positive effect on the skin surface. When cooled, the mass of paraffin will decrease in volume and provide a lifting effect.
Properties
the effect that occurs when mixing water with boiling paraffin
Paraffin is a white substance with a molecular weight of 300-450; in the molten state it has a low viscosity.
Paraffins are inert to most chemicals. They are oxidized by nitric acid, atmospheric oxygen (at 140 °C and above) and some other oxidizing agents to form various fatty acids, similar to fatty acids contained in fats of plant and animal origin. Synthetic fatty acids obtained by oxidation of paraffin are used instead of fats of plant and animal origin in the perfume industry, in the production of lubricants, detergents, and food products.
What paraffin is used in paraffin therapy?
Many people have heard about the hot paraffin therapy method. But there is also a method when the already cooled product is applied to the skin. Cold paraffin therapy is considered a complex method, so it is easier to follow the classical scheme: heat the product and apply a liquid solidifying mass to the body.
Manufacturers add ready-made compounds to paraffins, which themselves have a healing effect. For example, the addition of vitamins stimulates skin regeneration, nourishes and moisturizes the epidermis. Seaweed extract effectively fights cellulite. But even without adding additional ingredients, the paraffin mass has a beneficial effect on the skin.
Receipt
Paraffins can also be isolated from other products, for example, from ozokerite. Depending on the fractional composition, melting point and structure, paraffins are divided into liquid (tmelt ≤ 27 °C), solid (tmelt = 28-70 °C) and microcrystalline (tmelt > 60-80 °C) - ceresins. At the same melting point, ceresins differ from paraffins in having a higher molecular weight, density and viscosity. Ceresins react vigorously with fuming sulfuric acid, while paraffins react with it weakly. When distilling oil, ceresins are concentrated in the sediment, and paraffin is distilled with the distillate. Ceresins, which are concentrated in the residue after distillation of fuel oil, are a mixture of cycloalkanes and, in smaller quantities, solid arenes and alkanes. There are relatively few isoalkanes in ceresin.
Based on the degree of purification, paraffins are divided into the following types:
- slack and petrolatum, which contain up to 30% (wt.) oils;
- crude paraffins (ceresins) with an oil content of up to 6% (wt);
- purified and highly purified paraffins (ceresins).
Depending on the depth of purification, they are white (highly purified and refined brands) or slightly yellowish and from light yellow to light brown (unrefined paraffins). Purified paraffin has a density of 881-905 kg/m³. Ceresins are a mixture of hydrocarbons with the number of carbon atoms in the molecule from 36 to 55 (from C36 to C55). They are extracted from natural raw materials (natural ozokerite, as well as the remains of highly paraffinic oils obtained during its processing). Melting point 65-88 °C, molecular weight 500-700. Paraffins are widely used in electrical engineering, food (deep purification paraffins; tmelt = 50-54 °C; oil content 0.5-2.3% by weight), perfumery and other industries. Based on ceresin, various compositions are made in household chemicals, petroleum jelly; They are also used as thickeners in the production of greases, insulating materials in electrical and radio engineering, and wax mixtures.
Unrefined solid paraffins are produced using the following methods:
- deoiling of slack and petrolatum - by-products of the production (dewaxing) of oils using solvents (mixtures of ketone, benzene and toluene, dichloroethane), thereby obtaining crude paraffins (from slack) and ceresins (from petrolatum);
- separation and deoiling of paraffin from distillates of highly paraffinic oils using a mixture of ketone, benzene and toluene;
- precipitation of solid paraffins without the use of solvents (by cooling in crystallizers and filter pressing).
Crude paraffins are then refined (refined) using acid-base, adsorption (contact or percolation) or hydrogenation purification (to remove unstable substances that color and have an odor). Liquid paraffins are isolated from diesel fractions by dewaxing using selective solvents (a mixture of acetone, benzene and toluene), urea dewaxing (in the production of low solidification diesel fuel) and adsorption on molecular sieves (separation of C10-C18 liquid paraffins using porous synthetic zeolite).
Recipes for paraffin hand masks at home
The base is always the same - paraffin. You can add various additives to it or use only it. Let's look at recipes on how to prepare a paraffin mask with useful additives.
- Take a piece of paraffin and start melting it in a water bath. When it starts to melt, add 100 grams of liquid honey, a tablespoon each of beeswax and sea salt. Mix thoroughly. After the composition has cooled, you can begin the procedure.
- We also prepare the second version of the paraffin mask, that is, we add the ingredients to the heated substance. Here we add a tablespoon of olive oil, the juice of one lemon, half a teaspoon of talcum powder.
- To prepare the third version of the mask, you will need vitamins A and E and a tablespoon of olive oil.
Below you are presented only a small part of the options for paraffin mask recipes. You can use other recipes as well. You can also try buying a ready-made product. There are various options on the cosmetology market, for example, the Bioaqua paraffin hand mask.
Before performing the procedure yourself, you can visit a beauty salon to fully experience the effect. Include paraffin masks in your mandatory self-care routine and your hands will thank you!
Application
"waxing" is referenced here. A separate article is needed on this topic.
Not to be confused with initialing.
- candles for lighting and for making matches;
- lubricant for rubbing wooden parts (drawer guides, pencil cases, etc.);
- when mixed with gasoline - anti-corrosion coating (flammable!);
- in cosmetics for the production of petroleum jelly;
- paraffins are registered as food additives E905 x
; - used for paraffin therapy in medicine and cosmetology;
- lubricant for sliding cross-country skis, alpine skis and snowboards;
- in nuclear physics and technology: an effective neutron moderator and a proton “generator”;
- for lubricating bicycle chains;
- for greasing felt wads.
In radio engineering:
- For impregnation of electrical paper used in the manufacture of capacitors and winding transformers. Sometimes cardboard used to make circuit boards using the surface-mounting method is also impregnated.
- For filling frameless inductors, to protect them from vibrations and microphone effects. Often used, for example, in VHF radios. Sometimes the entire volume of the microassembly is filled.
- In other cases where high electrical strength, low AC losses, low price and the ability to be easily released from the filling by simple heating are required.
Regenerating effect
Paraffin therapy is a truly unique restorative procedure that can return tired skin to its well-groomed appearance. Liquid paraffin is used, and the therapy itself has an excellent reputation among cosmetologists and people who turn to them for help.
Medical paraffin can improve the body's metabolic processes, provide a rejuvenating effect, moisturize the skin, and influence its tone. This substance is also beneficial when performing therapeutic procedures for sore joints, bruises, sprains, and some other painful conditions.
The therapeutic effect of medical paraffin is that it improves blood circulation in a diseased organ and normalizes metabolism. Paraffin applications are also used for colds accompanied by cough. In this case, the heat it generates promotes the separation of sputum, which alleviates the patient’s condition.
The threat of “paraffin poisoning” and its elimination
- main article Diesel fuel
- main article Dewaxing
In summer types of diesel fuel, a high paraffin content is often found. At temperatures below −5 °C, this causes crystallization of paraffin in the tank, as well as in all parts of the diesel engine from the tank to the injectors, which leads to diesel failure. To eliminate this, sometimes you have to clean the entire TA.
To prevent crystallization, kerosene, brake fluid, and special preparations commonly called antigel
. Also, paraffin from diesel fuel can be isolated during production by freezing and filtering. In Russia, the production of summer types of diesel fuel has not yet been prohibited, so in winter a lot of so-called “paraffin poisoning” occurs, which leads to failure and difficult repairs of diesel engines.
