Waxes definition of Waxes in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Waxes

fatty substances of animal or vegetable origin, chiefly consisting of esters of the higher fatty acids and high-molecular (usually monatomic) spirits.

Waxes are amorphous, plastic, and readily softened by heating, and they melt at temperatures of 40°-90° C. Their physical and chemical properties are those of fats; they have low reactivity and are very resistant to the action of various reagents; some of them can be preserved for many years without change.

Waxes are divided into animal, vegetable, and mineral types. Animal waxes include beeswax, produced by the wax glands of bees and other insects; wool or lanolin, obtained by washing sheep’s wool; and spermaceti, isolated from the fat of the sperm whale. Vegetable waxes include carnauba, which is obtained from the leaves of the Brazilian wax palm, as well as candelilla and palm wax. Mineral waxes include ceresin, a by-product of cleaning ozocerite, and montan wax obtained from lignite or peat. Production of synthetic waxes has developed since 1939. These products are received by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide (so-called Fischer-Tropsch wax). They are also made from low-molecular polyolefins, for example, from polyethylene with a molecular mass of 2,000-10,000.

Practical applications in various technical fields are largely limited to animal, mineral, and synthetic waxes, which are utilized in the preparation of polishing compounds and emulsions for fabrics, tanning of hides, processing of resins, paper-making, and pressure molding of polymers. Vegetable waxes fill the important biological function of regulating the water systems of plants.

Waxes are employed as a plastic for separate works of art, such as the bust and statue of Peter I by B. K. Rastrelli, in the Hermitage, Leningrad, and the bas-reliefs of F. P. Tolstoi, in the Russian Museum, Leningrad. They also serve for modeling various artifacts of bronze (sculpture, medals, and so on). Wax coatings of undecorated wood—for example, the furniture and carved panels of the 17th and 18th centuries—impart a natural shine and emphasize its structure. A thin coat of wax protects marble sculpture from moisture, and wax serves as the basis of wax painting.

REFERENCE

Ivanovskii, L. Entsiklopediia voskov, vol. 1. Leningrad, 1956. (Translated from German.)

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No references found	At eve, within yon studious nook, I ope my brass-embossed book, Portray'd with many a holy deed Of martyrs crown'd with heavenly meed; Then, as my taper waxes dim, Chant, ere I sleep, my measured hymn. Ivanhoe by Scott, Walter View in context Then its countenance waxes stern and grand, and we see that it must be true. Essays, First Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo View in context Expediency of literature, reason of literature, lawfulness of writing down a thought, is questioned; much is to say on both sides, and, while the fight waxes hot, thou, dearest scholar, stick to thy foolish task, add a line every hour, and between whiles add a line. Essays, Second Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo View in context	Wawayanda State Park Wawel wax wax distillate wax engraving wax figures wax fractionation wax gland Wax Glands wax manufacturing wax master wax moth, greater wax myrtle wax original Wax Painting wax plant Wax Ripeness wax sculpture wax stain wax tailings wax-block photometer wax-coating machine Waxahachie waxbill waxed paper Waxes waxing waxing moon Waxman, Franz waxwing waxwork waxy waxy-electrolyte battery way Way of the World, The way point Way to Wealth, The Wayback Machine waybill Waycross Wayfarers State Park Wayfaring Tree Wayland Wayland Smith Wayland, Francis Wayne Wayne Chicken Show Wayne County Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area Wayne National Forest Wayne State University	waxed waxed waxed waxed and wane waxed and wane waxed and wane waxed and wane waxed and wane Waxed cloth Waxed Corrugated Containers Waxed end waxed lyrical waxed lyrical waxed paper waxed paper waxed papers waxed papers waxen waxen Waxen chatterer waxer waxer waxer waxer waxer waxers waxers waxers waxers waxers Waxes waxes and wane waxes and wane waxes and wane waxes and wane waxes and wane waxes lyrical waxes lyrical Waxeye Waxeye waxflower Waxhaw Waxhaw, North Carolina waxier waxier waxier waxiest waxiest waxiest waxily waxily waxily Waxiness Waxiness Waxiness waxing waxing waxing waxing waxing waxing

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At eve, within yon studious nook, I ope my brass-embossed book, Portray'd with many a holy deed Of martyrs crown'd with heavenly meed; Then, as my taper waxes dim, Chant, ere I sleep, my measured hymn.

Ivanhoe by Scott, Walter View in context

Then its countenance waxes stern and grand, and we see that it must be true.

Essays, First Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo View in context

Expediency of literature, reason of literature, lawfulness of writing down a thought, is questioned; much is to say on both sides, and, while the fight waxes hot, thou, dearest scholar, stick to thy foolish task, add a line every hour, and between whiles add a line.

Essays, Second Series by Emerson, Ralph Waldo View in context