ABOUT HOME PRODUCT FINDER PRODUCTS APPLICATIONS RESOURCES SUSTAINABILITY CAREERS CONTACT Waxes for Specialized Applications IGI's wax experts provide scientific advisory services to dozens of industries Don’t see your industry highlighted under our Applications menu? Don’t worry. Your industry is probably right here. Wax Solutions for Specialized Industries Following is just a short list of the specialized industrial uses of wax. For the specific IGI product appropriate for your need, please contact us. Barrier Coating Waxes and wax blends can be applied to numerous surfaces to reduce unwanted penetration or interactions of numerous liquids (water, grease, etc) and gases (oxygen, etc.) Batteries Waxes are used in heat management systems for EV batteries in thermostat devices and heat sink devices as phase change materials. Beehive Coating Waxes are used as coatings for beehives to protect wooden boards from moisture damage. Bottle Cap Liner Waxes can be utilized to coat and secure cap liners into plastic caps. The wax serves to form a watertight seal between the bottle and the outer cap to reduce leaking if the bottle is overturned. Caulking Compound Petroleum waxes are used in the formulation of caulks and sealants as rheology modifying agents to enhance processing and functionality. Chewing Gum Base Food grade paraffin and microcrystalline waxes are commonly used in the preparation of chewing gum bases to bind ingredients and serve as a rheology modifier, and to enhance “chew” characteristics. Corrosion Inhibitor Waxes possess excellent film forming and water repellent properties making them valuable components in rust preventative formulations. Cheese Waxes Food grade waxes are used to externally coat cheese to extend shelf life. Crayons Paraffin waxes serve as a pigment binder. They assist in the transfer of the pigment from the crayon to the desired substrate. Dental Wax Paraffin waxes and wax blends are used in dental modeling waxes, and in waxed floss. Dentist and dental labs use various wax blends as: base-plate wax, inlay-casting wax, impression compound, set-up wax, bite wax, sticky wax and carving wax. Dental waxes must have high plasticity at normal temperatures, tensile strength, fusibility, hardness, adhesiveness and noncrystallinity. Drink Cups Waxes and wax alternative coatings provide structural rigidity and reduce liquid penetration through the paper substrate. Duck Plucking Waxes assist in the removal of feathers from poultry. Etching Paraffin or crude scale waxes are used to prevent “acid etching” of metals by forming a protective covering which can be easily removed. Fabric Finishing Paraffin waxes and wax blends can be applied to fabric to add desired characteristics such as “drape”, wrinkle or moisture resistance Firelogs Petroleum waxes (primarily slack waxes) are used to bind compressed wood particles and maintain shape. Waxes ease ignition of the product and support the burn properties. Floor and Wood Furniture Polishes Waxes enhance the grain, gloss and buffability characteristics of a polish or paste primarily for wood floors and furniture. Fruit and Vegetable Coatings Waxes and wax emulsions may be used on fruit (eg apples) to extend storage life and improve appearance. They may also be used in fruit sprays for semiochemicals as an inert carrier. Waxes are also used to coat vegetables (eg rutabagas) to extend shelf life. Insulating Wax Paraffin waxes are utilized in numerous electrical applications due to their superior insulating properties. Investment Casting Paraffin and Microcrystalline waxes serve as binders in investment casting “waxes” and assist in the removal after the mold is produced. Investment casting waxes offer exceptional dimensional stability required in precision castings of metals, as required in precision components for aerospace, automotive and jewelry. Leather Treating Crude scale and paraffin waxes soften and impart water repellency to leather goods. Lumber End-Checking Waxes and wax emulsions are used to reduce the checking or splitting of the ends of sawn lumber. Metal Coatings Paraffin and crude scale waxes are used on the surface of metals during production and shipping to provide lubrication and serve as a protective barrier (acid etching or moisture). Net Treatments (Aquaculture) Waxes and wax emulsions are used in conjunction with appropriate algaecides to reduce algae build-up on fish farm nets and enable optimal water flows and reduced cleaning intervals. Paint and Varnish Removers Crude scale and paraffin waxes reduce the evaporation of solvents prolonging their efficiency. Physiotherapy Low melt paraffin and crude scale waxes are used in physiotherapy treatments to provide heat to an injured area and aid in recovery. Waxes permit a greater release of heat for a longer period than water, completely surround the area being treated and the patient does not need to remain in a fixed position. Also used in at-home therapy kits. Road Marking Paint Waxes function as fillers and binders in thermoplastic road marking paints and tapes. Rodenticides (Pest Control Products) Paraffin and crude scale waxes are used as binding agents for the active ingredients in rodenticides. Shoe Polishes Waxes enhance the gloss and buff characteristics of a polish or paste. Ski Wax Paraffin waxes permit skiers to achieve much greater speeds through the production of a uniform, unblemished surface. Waxes are applied to the snow / ski interface to fill all voids in the ski base. The surface wax must be removed as it will actually stick to snow crystals reducing achievable speeds. Textile Treatment Petroleum waxes are utilized in textile treatment to provide lubrication, resisting penetration of water or other liquids, and impacting the feel, look, or performance of the finished product. Waxes are among the most valuable assistants in the textile processing formulas for sizing, finishing, waterproofing, printing and polishing. Tissue Embedding (Histology Waxes) Paraffin wax has been used as an embedding histology medium in the study of tissue for over 100 years. Specialty grades of wax thoroughly permeate the tissue in its liquid form (when warm), maintain a high degree of transparency, and solidify (when cooled) with little damage to the tissue. Modern techniques combine the use of wax with sophisticated digital imaging equipment. Toilet Bowl Gaskets Crude scale and microcrystalline waxes are formed into rings designed to seal the connection between the toilet base and the drain flange. Vine Grafting Grafting is the process of bringing two different vines or tree sections together. After a graft is made, some covering must be used to keep it from drying out. A special elastomeric material (grafting tape) can be wound around the graft, or the more economical approach is to dip or brush on a wax blend. Huge possibilities using wax There are over 100+ applications that have used IGI waxes New uses of wax uncovered all the time Despite over 70 years in the wax business, IGI routinely discovers new ways for our customers to incorporate wax in their application Get in touch We want to hear your ideas on how to use wax, and how we can make our products work for you Talk to an IGI Wax Expert Call 1-800-561-3509 Contact IGI FOLLOW US linkedin youtube instagram twitter HEADQUARTERS The International Group, Inc. 50 Salome Dr Toronto, ON M1S 2A8 U.S.A. MAILING ADDRESS The International Group, Inc 1007 E. 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