- Paraffin and Its Different Grades
- Choosing the right paraffin grade
- Which paraffin grades are most widely used in Bulgaria
- Packaging of various paraffin grades for Bulgaria
- Key Bulgarian ports for receiving paraffin grades
- Domestic and foreign Paraffin Supplier Bulgaria
- Specifications of semi-refined paraffin with oil grade 1%, 1-2% and 3-5% for Bulgaria
Paraffin and Its Different Grades
Paraffin is a white or colorless soft solid derived from petroleum, coal, or oil shale. It’s composed mainly of straight-chain alkanes and is widely used in candles, cosmetics, packaging, rubber, and as a moisture barrier. Paraffin comes in various grades, each suited for specific industrial or commercial applications.
- Fully Refined Paraffin Wax
Oil content: <0.5%
Appearance: White, odorless, and highly pure
Applications: Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food packaging, candles
Features: High purity, excellent color and odor stability - Semi Refined Paraffin Wax
Oil content: 1% , 1–2%, 1-3% , 3-5%, 5-7%
Appearance: White to slightly off-white
Applications: Candle-making, polishes, waterproofing, packaging
Features: Less refined than fully refined, but more economical - Slack Wax
Oil content: 5–30%
Appearance: Yellowish or brownish, more viscous
Applications: Lubricants, matches, rust protection, paraffin production
Grades:
Light Slack Wax (lower oil content, lighter color)
Heavy Slack Wax (higher oil content, darker and more viscous) - Microcrystalline Wax
Oil content: Variable
Appearance: More elastic and tacky than paraffin wax
Applications: Cosmetics, adhesives, coatings, pharmaceuticals
Features: Smaller crystals, more flexible and sticky
Choosing the right paraffin grade
Selecting the appropriate paraffin grade is crucial to ensure optimal performance, cost-efficiency, and product safety. Here are key factors to consider when choosing a paraffin grade for your application:
- Application Purpose
Candles & Cosmetics: Use fully refined paraffin wax for its purity and consistent performance.
Packaging & Waterproofing: Semi refined paraffin wax provides good performance at a lower cost.
Industrial Lubricants & Matches: Slack wax (light or heavy) is ideal due to its higher oil content.
Pharmaceutical & Personal Care: Microcrystalline wax is preferred for its tackiness and elasticity. - Oil Content
Lower oil content (e.g., <0.5%) is better for clean-burning and high-purity applications.
Higher oil content (5–30%) offers better lubrication and is more suitable for industrial use. - Melting Point
Affects how the wax behaves under heat.
Choose lower melting points for easy application (e.g., skin creams).
Higher melting points are better for structural integrity (e.g., container candles or technical coatings). - Purity and Color
High-purity white waxes are best for visible or skin-contact products.
Lower purity grades are sufficient for technical or hidden industrial applications. - Budget Constraints
Fully refined paraffin is costlier but essential for premium or regulated products.
Semi refined and slack wax are more economical for general or bulk industrial use.
Which paraffin grades are most widely used in Bulgaria
1. Semi-Refined Paraffin Wax (Most Common)
- Oil content: 1–3%
- Applications:
– Candle manufacturing (a major industry in Bulgaria)
– Packaging materials
– Cosmetics (non-premium segments) - Why it’s popular:
– Affordable
– Readily available locally and through imports
-Suitable for general-purpose industrial and household use
2. Fully Refined Paraffin Wax
- Oil content: <0.75%
- Applications:
– Pharmaceuticals
– High-end cosmetics and personal care
– Food-contact materials (e.g., cheese coatings, food wraps) - Import focus:
– Bulgaria imports this grade primarily from European countries and Turkey. - Why it’s used:
– Needed where purity, whiteness, and odor neutrality are essential
Slack Wax (Less Common but Present)
- Oil content: 5–30%
- Applications:
– Used as a feedstock to produce refined paraffin
– Lubricants
– Rust prevention - Mainly handled by industrial processors who further refine it for local use or export
Summary:
- Semi-Refined Wax dominates the market due to versatility and cost-effectiveness.
- Fully Refined Wax serves niche, high-standard sectors.
- Slack Wax is more of a processing input than an end-use product.
Packaging of various paraffin grades for Bulgaria
The packaging of paraffin in Bulgaria is typically aligned with EU standards, emphasizing safe handling, easy transport, and clean storage. The packaging also varies depending on the grade and end-use.
1. Fully Refined Paraffin Wax
- Form: Slabs / Pastilles
- Weight: 5–10 kg slabs or 25 kg boxes
- Packaging Type:
– PE-lined carton boxes
– Sometimes in multi-layer kraft paper bags
– Shrink-wrapped pallets for bulk transport - Use case: Premium packaging for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food-contact materials
- Labeling: Product grade, melting point, batch number, MSDS info
2. Semi Refined Paraffin Wax
- Form: Slabs
- Weight: 5 kg slabs or 25 kg cartons
- Packaging Type:
– Kraft paper bags with PE liners or plastic-lined cardboard boxes
– Often palletized for warehouse efficiency - Use case: Packaging optimized for candle factories, packaging manufacturers, and cosmetics industries
3. Slack Wax
- Form: Semi-solid, oily
- Weight: Supplied in bulk (IBCs or drums) or 180–200 kg steel drums
- Packaging Type:
– Mild steel drums
– IBC tanks for large industrial buyers
– ISO tanks for export/import - Use case: Industrial processors, lubricant and wax manufacturers
Key Bulgarian ports for receiving paraffin grades
- Port of Varna
Location: Northeastern Bulgaria, on the Black Sea coast.
Specialization: One of the largest ports in Bulgaria, handling a wide range of cargo including chemicals, oils, and petroleum products. - Port of Burgas
Location: Southeastern Bulgaria, on the Black Sea. - Port of Ruse (Danube River)
Location: On the Danube River, northern Bulgaria.
Usage: Could be relevant for inland delivery after sea cargo arrives in Varna or Burgas.
Domestic and foreign Paraffin Supplier Bulgaria
- Evricom Ltd. (Stara Zagora)
Overview: Established in 1993, Evricom is a leading Bulgarian company specializing in the development and production of special wax blends for various applications. - NKTOIL (Sofia)
Products: Offers products like Silver Superior Grade Paraffin Wax and High Grade Liquid Paraffin. - IPN Ltd.
Overview: A wholesale company trading in chemical products and raw materials, including paraffin wax.
International Paraffin Supplier Bulgaria
ZUMRUT International Kimya is a prominent Turkish petrochemical company supplying paraffin wax to Bulgaria and other Eastern European countries. With operations in Turkey and the UAE, the company is a key player in the regional paraffin wax market.
Specifications of semi-refined paraffin with oil grade 1%, 1-2% and 3-5% for Bulgaria
| Property | 1% Oil Content | 1–2% Oil Content | 3–5% Oil Content |
| Oil Content | ≤ 1% | 1–2% | 3–5% |
| Melting Point (°C) | 60–64 | 58–62 | 56–60 |
| Color | White to snow white | Off-white to cream | Pale yellow to off-white |
| Odor | Odorless or very mild | Mild hydrocarbon scent | Noticeable hydrocarbon scent |
| Penetration @25°C (dmm) | ≤ 15 | 15–20 | 20–30 |
| Viscosity @100°C (cSt) | 4.0–5.5 | 4.5–6.0 | 5.5–7.5 |
| Flash Point (°C) | ≥ 240 | ≥ 230 | ≥ 220 |
| Moisture | None | None | None |
| Ash Content | ≤ 0.03% | ≤ 0.05% | ≤ 0.1% |
| Congealing Point (°C) | 58–62 | 57–61 | 55–59 |
| Applications | Cosmetics, food-grade candles, packaging | Candle making, paper coating, crayons | Matches, plywood, rubber, industrial candles |
