Natural montan wax and its raffinates

Natural waxes have been used by mankind since prehistoric times. Many uses of wax are based on the imitation of its natural functions. Waxes in nature primarily serve to provide protective barriers on the surfaces of living o rganisms. Their functions are also determined by wax characteristics such a s adhesion and cohesion, as well as slip and deformation effects. In ancien t times, for example, wax seals were used to help preserve food and beverag es. Beeswax has remained an important material for manufacturing candles up to the present day. Recent vegetable waxes have been used in industry sinc e the mid-nineteenth century. for example in care products. Refined and che mically processed montan-based waxes are quite similar to naturally occurri ng vegetable ester waxes in their structure and application characteristics . They are similar in their environmental characteristics and are also nont oxic. Crude montan wax itself belongs to the naturally occurring waxes of v egetable origin such as candelilla wax and carnauba wax.