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Paraffinic Wax · CAS 8002-74-2

Paraffin Wax

CnH2n+2 (n ≈ 20–40) Molar mass ≈ 280 – 560 g/mol (grade dependent)

The refined solid paraffin supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a co-product of lubricant base oil dewaxing, used across candles, packaging coatings, hot-melt adhesives and food-contact applications — exported from Indonesia as slab or pastille with full batch documentation on every shipment.

Identification Sheet REP.
Product typeRefined mixture of straight-chain (n-paraffin) hydrocarbons, C20–C40
CAS number8002-74-2
Principal compositionSaturated n-alkanes, with minor iso- and cyclo-paraffins
Melting Point Range46 – 68 °C, grade dependent
AppearanceWhite, odourless, waxy solid
Common synonymsParaffin Wax, Petroleum Wax, Fully/Semi-Refined Paraffin Wax
Melting Point54 – 62 °Ctypical fully refined grade
Oil Content<0.5% (fully refined) · 0.5–3% (semi-refined)wt%
Specific Gravity0.90solid, 20 °C
Flash Point> 200 °Cclosed cup, approx.
AppearanceWhite, odourless waxy solidslab, pastille or granule
Grades OfferedFully refined & semi-refinedfood-grade option available
01 / PRODUCT DOSSIER

What Paraffin Wax is, and why buyers source it

A working overview of the product's composition, its origin as a co-product of lube-oil manufacture, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.

Paraffin Wax is a refined mixture of long, straight-chain saturated hydrocarbons — predominantly n-alkanes in the C20 to C40 range — with a small proportion of branched (iso-) and ring-containing (naphthenic) paraffins. Those long, regular, saturated chains pack closely together in a crystalline structure once cooled below their melting point, which is the source of wax's characteristic hardness, opacity and sharp melting behaviour relative to an amorphous material.

At room temperature it is a white, essentially odourless, waxy solid, supplied as slab, pastille or granule depending on how the buyer intends to handle and melt it. It is insoluble in water but dissolves in most non-polar organic solvents and melts cleanly to a low-viscosity liquid a little above its specified melting point, making it easy to dose, coat or mould once molten.

Where it fits in the value chain

Paraffin Wax's best-known use is in candle manufacture, where fully refined wax is moulded, dipped or poured, often blended with stearic acid or other additives to tune hardness and burn characteristics. A large industrial volume also goes into packaging and coating applications: wax coatings on corrugated board, paper and paperboard for moisture resistance in produce and frozen-food packaging, and as a component in hot-melt adhesive formulations, where it controls set speed and open time. Food-grade fully refined wax is used, within regulatory limits, as a coating on cheese, fruit and confectionery, and as a release and finishing agent in cosmetics and pharmaceutical ointment bases. A further significant use is as an anti-ozonant wax in rubber and tyre compounding, where a thin wax film migrates to the rubber surface to provide static ozone protection.

Grades we supply

Chelora Chemicals offers Paraffin Wax in fully refined grade (low oil content, light colour, suited to candle, food-contact and cosmetic applications) and semi-refined grade (higher oil content, suited to industrial coating, adhesive and rubber-compounding applications where colour and oil content are less critical), supplied as slab or pastille. Each grade is supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.

02 / MANUFACTURING ROUTE

How Paraffin Wax is produced

An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.

Paraffin Wax is recovered as a co-product of lubricant base oil manufacture, specifically from the dewaxing step: when a waxy lube distillate is chilled and mixed with a solvent (commonly a methyl ethyl ketone/toluene blend) to precipitate the wax out of solution, the solid that crystallises and is filtered off is known as slack wax, a crude wax still carrying a significant proportion of entrained oil. Slack wax is then de-oiled, typically by a second solvent crystallisation and filtration stage (or by sweating, a controlled partial-melting technique), to progressively reduce oil content and reach either semi-refined or, with a further hydrofinishing or clay-treatment polishing step, fully refined specification.

Because wax yield and quality depend directly on the waxy content of the crude feeding the base-oil plant, wax production is intrinsically tied to base-oil production volumes rather than being independently dialled up or down; fully refined, food-grade material additionally undergoes dedicated purification and quality control to meet the relevant food-contact specification.

03 / APPLICATIONS

Industries and processes that use it

Paraffin Wax is consumed across candle manufacture, packaging and coating, adhesives, and food/cosmetic and rubber-compounding applications. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.

Field 01

Candle Manufacture

Moulded, dipped or poured into candles, typically blended with stearic acid or other additives to tune hardness, opacity and burn characteristics.

Field 02

Packaging & Coating

Applied as a moisture-resistant coating on corrugated board, paper and paperboard for produce, frozen-food and industrial packaging.

Field 03

Hot-Melt Adhesives

A component in hot-melt adhesive formulations, where it controls set speed, open time and final bond hardness.

Field 04

Food, Cosmetic & Rubber Applications

Used, in food-grade form, as a coating on cheese, fruit and confectionery, as a cosmetic and pharmaceutical ointment-base ingredient, and as an anti-ozonant migrating wax in rubber and tyre compounds.

04 / REACTION CHEMISTRY

How the product is typically carried forward

The wax's long, straight-chain, crystallising structure governs almost all of its further formulation behaviour. The categories below account for most of the ways Paraffin Wax is converted into a finished product.

Blending & Additive Formulation

Blended with stearic acid, microcrystalline wax, polymers or dyes to tune hardness, opacity, gloss and melting behaviour for candle and coating applications.

Melt Coating & Impregnation

Applied molten onto paper, board or textile substrates, where it cools and recrystallises to form a continuous moisture-resistant film or coating.

Hot-Melt Compounding

Combined with polymers, tackifiers and other waxes in a molten blend to produce hot-melt adhesives with a defined open time and set speed.

Surface Migration (Anti-Ozonant Use)

In rubber compounds, the wax slowly migrates (blooms) to the rubber surface over time, forming a thin protective film against static ozone attack.

05 / RELATED BUILDING BLOCKS

Paraffin Wax against other refinery products we supply

Buyers sourcing paraffin wax often also need the base oil it is co-produced with, or other refinery-derived specialty products. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.

ProductCAS NumberCategoryNotes
Paraffin Wax8002-74-2Paraffinic waxThe product on this page — a co-product of lube base oil dewaxing.
Base Oil (Group I/II/III)Varies by groupLubricant base stockThe lube base oil this wax is recovered alongside during dewaxing — see its product page.
Petroleum Coke64741-79-3Carbon-rich refinery residueA related heavy-refinery product, from the other end of the crude barrel — see its product page.
Linear Alkyl Benzene67774-74-7Alkylaromatic surfactant feedstockA related specialty petrochemical product used in detergent manufacture — see its product page.

Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Paraffin Wax.

06 / HAZARD & HANDLING

Safety classification at a glance

Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.

Low Hazard Profile

Not classified as hazardous under GHS for most standard end points in its refined solid form.

Combustible Solid

Combustible, particularly as fine dust or when molten near an ignition source; standard combustible-solid precautions apply.

Thermal Handling

Handled molten above its melting point in some dosing and coating systems; standard hot-material handling precautions apply.

Food Grade

Food-grade material meets the relevant food-contact purity specification; industrial grade should not be substituted for food-contact use.

PPE Standard

Standard gloves and eye protection are sufficient for routine handling; heat-resistant gloves for molten handling.

Dust Control

Minimise airborne dust during milling and packing of granule or powder grades.

Signal word

Generally handled as a low-hazard material; refer to the batch MSDS for the specific grade supplied.

This product has a notably low hazard profile in its refined solid form and is widely used in food-contact and cosmetic applications in its fully refined, food-grade form. Industrial-grade material should not be substituted into food-contact applications without confirming it meets the relevant purity specification. Molten handling calls for standard hot-material precautions. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance for the specific grade supplied is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.

07 / STORAGE & SHELF LIFE

Keeping it on spec between delivery and use

General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.

Storage TemperatureCool, ambient, out of direct sun
ContainerSlab / pastille in lined cartons or bags
Typical Shelf Life36 months, unopened
Keep Away FromStrong oxidizers, direct heat sources
Beyond Shelf LifeRe-check melting point and colour before use

Store in a cool, dry area out of direct sunlight, away from strong oxidising agents and direct heat sources that could cause softening or melting in storage. Food-grade material should be stored and handled under dedicated, food-safe conditions separate from industrial-grade stock. Re-check melting point, oil content and colour on a batch held past its retest date before use.

08 / PACKING & EXPORT

How it ships from Indonesia

Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.

Standard Packing25 kg cartons (slab/pastille)
Bulk PackingBulk bags / heated bulk tanker on request
Min. OrderFrom 1 tonne
Lead Time2 – 3 weeks
Export TermsFOB · CFR · CIF
09 / QUALITY & DOCUMENTATION

What travels with every batch

Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Paraffin Wax leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.

Doc 01

Certificate of Analysis

Batch-wise assay, colour and key physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.

Doc 02

Safety Data Sheet

GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.

Doc 03

Technical Data Sheet

Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.

Doc 04

Certificate of Origin

Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.

Doc 05

Dangerous Goods Declaration

UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.

Doc 06

Third-Party Inspection

Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.

10 / FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.

01What is Paraffin Wax used for?+
Predominantly in candle manufacture; it is also used as a moisture-resistant coating on paper and packaging board, as a component in hot-melt adhesives, as a food-contact and cosmetic ingredient in its fully refined grade, and as an anti-ozonant wax in rubber compounding.
02What is the CAS number of Paraffin Wax?+
Its CAS Registry Number is 8002-74-2. As a mixture of long-chain n-alkanes rather than a single compound, it has no single molecular formula or molar mass; the typical carbon range is C20–C40.
03How is Paraffin Wax produced?+
As a co-product of lube base oil manufacture: slack wax is recovered during the solvent dewaxing step of base oil processing, then progressively de-oiled by solvent crystallisation or sweating, with a further hydrofinishing or clay-treatment step to reach fully refined specification.
04What grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
We supply fully refined grade (low oil content, light colour, suited to candle, food-contact and cosmetic applications) and semi-refined grade (higher oil content, suited to industrial coating and rubber-compounding applications). Each grade ships with a certificate of analysis.
05Is Paraffin Wax hazardous?+
It has a notably low hazard profile in its refined solid form and is approved for food-contact and cosmetic use in its fully refined grade. Industrial-grade material should not be substituted for food-contact applications; molten handling calls for standard hot-material precautions as set out in the MSDS supplied with each shipment.
06Why is wax production tied to base oil production rather than being its own independent process?+
Wax is recovered from the same waxy lube distillate that base oil is refined from, specifically as the solid fraction removed during the dewaxing step needed to give base oil its target pour point — so wax yield and availability track base-oil production volumes rather than being independently scaled up or down on their own.
07What packing options are available?+
Standard packing is 25 kg cartons for slab or pastille grades, with bulk bags or heated bulk tanker shipment available on request.
08How long does delivery take?+
Typical lead time is two to three weeks plus transit, depending on whether the grade is ex-stock or made to order and your destination port. A firm date is confirmed in the written quotation.
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
Yes. Pre-shipment samples and a batch certificate of analysis can be arranged so your QC team can verify the specification before committing to volume.
10Do you supply the related base oil as well?+
Yes, we supply Base Oil across Group I, II and III grades, from whose dewaxing step this wax is co-produced.
Request This Grade

Need Paraffin Wax on spec, on time?

Send us your required grade (fully/semi-refined), melting point, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.