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 Lithuania
In Lithuania, paraffin wax is utilized across various industries, including candle manufacturing, cosmetics, and packaging. The most commonly used grades are:
- Fully Refined Paraffin Wax (Melting Point 56–58°C)
This high-purity wax has an oil content of less than 0.8% and is predominantly used in candle production. It is also suitable for cosmetics and food packaging applications. For instance, Sapolita offers this grade for moulded candles, highlighting its low odor and high purity . - Hydrorefined Paraffin Wax (Melting Points 52–60°C)
Hydrorefined paraffin waxes are produced through hydrogenation, resulting in a product with minimal oil content and improved stability. These are available in various melting points and are used in applications requiring high purity and stability. Ilumina, a supplier in the region, offers several grades of hydrorefined paraffin wax . - Semi-Refined Paraffin Wax (Oil Content 1–3%)
Semi-refined paraffin waxes, with oil content ranging from 1% to 3%, are used in applications where a balance between cost and performance is desired. These are suitable for candle making and other industrial applications .
Packaging of various paraffin grades for Lithuania
The packaging of paraffin in Lithuania 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.
- Fully Refined Paraffin Wax
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 - 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 - 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 Lithuania ports for receiving paraffin grades
- Port of Klaipėda
Location: Baltic Sea, western Lithuania - Port of Būtingė
Location: Near the Baltic Sea, on the western coast of Lithuania.
Domestic and foreign Paraffin Supplier Lithuania
- UAB “Ekovela”
Products: Offers paraffin wax and other petrochemical products. - UAB “Gintarinė”
Products: Distributes paraffin wax, primarily for use in the candle, cosmetics, and food packaging industries. - UAB “Baltic Paraffin”
Products: Specializes in paraffin wax for industrial applications.
International Paraffin Supplier Lithuania
ZUMRUT International Kimya is a prominent Turkish petrochemical company supplying paraffin wax to Lithuania 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 Paraffin Supplier Lithuania
| 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 |
