Phase Behavior of Binary Blends of Four Different Waxes

Abstract

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the phase behavior of binary blends of four waxes—beeswax (BW), paraffin wax (PW), sunflower wax (SFW), and rice bran wax (RBW)—using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). Blends of BW/PW, RBW/PW, SFW/PW, SFW/RBW, SFW/BW, and RBW/BW were crystallized in a DSC, and their melting behavior was used to build binary phase diagrams. The microstructure of the crystalline networks formed in these blends was analyzed using PLM. BW/PW, SFW/PW, SFW/BW, and RBW/BW blends showed eutectic phase behavior, while RBW/SFW showed continuous solid solution and the RBW/PW blend showed monotectic behavior. Results from the box‐counting fractal dimension (Db) measurement of crystal morphology showed higher Db values for the 20 and 80 % wax blends, irrespective of crystallization temperature or wax type. Db values of single waxes decrease as temperature increases.