GB810904A - Improvements in treatment of petroleum wax - Google Patents

Abstract

A modified wax is prepared by treating a petroleum wax with not less than 2 per cent by weight of potassium hydroxide at 250-270 DEG C. for 10-30 hours, and then with an oxygen-containing gas, e.g. air, at 145-170 DEG C. for not less than 6 hours. From 2-3 per cent of potassium hydroxide may be used, and the treatment may be carried out in an atmosphere of inert gas, e.g. nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The treatment with oxygen-containing gas may be effected for 1-4 hours at 160-170 DEG C. and therefore 2-25 hours at 145-160 DEG C., the total time of treatment being at least 6 hours. Examples are given of the treatment of paraffin wax of M.P. 133-135 DEG F. and of microcrystalline waxes of M.P. 190 DEG and 195 DEG F. The modified wax may be treated with sulphur, for example, by heating 5 parts by weight of sulphur with 95 parts of the wax at 120-130 DEG C. The reaction may be accelerated by adding 1 per cent of stearic acid. The modified wax can be used to make a self-polishing floor wax emulsion, comprising 57 parts of the modified wax, 48 parts oxidized wax or carnauba wax, 5 parts oleic acid, 4 parts triethanolamine, 3 parts 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, 3 parts borax and water to make a total 1,000 parts. Such wax emulsion is made by first melting together the modified petroleum wax, the carnauba wax and the oleic acid, cooling to 210 DEG F. and adding the triethanolamine and the 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol and stirring for 10 minutes at that temperature, the borax dissolved in 30 parts water is then added and the whole stirred for 15 minutes still at 210 DEG F., the hot mixture is then poured into water at 210 DEG F. and the whole agitated to form an emulsion. The emulsion is cooled and adjusted to a pH of 8.5-9 with ammonia water.