Beeswax casting

Casting by the lost wax method entails initially creating a core of clay covered with a layer of beeswax, and modeling the outer layer of the wax in the exact pattern of the desired cast. Once the wax pattern is made, the sequence of operations listed below is generally followed (Feinberg 1983 Ammen 1979) ... 

Eadie, in Ref 69, reports on a considerable amount of work done on the ability of beeswax and paraffin wax to remain coated on HMX surfaces when immersed in liq TNT. Thru measurements of contact angles, a technique used earlier on RDX/wax systems reported on by Rubin in Ref 23, it was determined that the TNT preferentially wets the HMX and the wax is stripped away. He concludes that the most important property of a desensitizing wax is that it should be readily dispersed uniformly thruout the TNT phase. He also suggests that a better desensitizer for investigation for use would be a wax or substituted hydrocarbon having a low interfacial tension with TNT. The smaller the wax droplet size the more efficiently it will be distributed and the more effectively it should desensitize. Williamson (Ref 64) in his examination of the microstructures of PETN/TNT/wax fusion-casts detected that wax is dispersed thru the cast as isolated descrete globules which he refers to as blebs or irregular or streak-like areas, surrounded by TNT (see also Ref 54)... 

Metals, usually gold and silver, are often cast to make rings and other small jewelry pieces. In lost wax casting, a wax pattern for a jewelry piece is burned out of a mold. A large variety of waxes, such as beeswax, paraffin, and tallow, can be used. The waxes can release formaldehyde and acrolein. 

The composition of beeswax varies by insect species and by what the bees have been eating. Beeswax has a low melting point, and is often cast into useful or decorative shapes. Combined with resins, it was used as a water-proofing and adhesive. It has been used as a coating on paintings and furniture, to enhance the appearance of and to protect the surfaces from moisture. It was used as a water-repellent and adhesive in ships and boats. Beeswax has been applied to fabric, cordage, and hair to add luster and increase water-resistance, and as a base for cosmetic and medicinal creams and lotions. Beeswax was the primary and best available material for making candles until the invention of paraffin wax, which is a by-product of the distillation of petroleum. 

Seals Shop. There is a great wealth and variety of seals belonging to the medieval documentation of Spain. Fortunately, these individual pieces of art have survived the ravages of time in a better manner than the documents to which they are appended or applied. Those seals that do require attention are mended with pins and beeswax, but the majority of work done is for exhibitions and to have reproductions available for academic research. Seals of great rarity or historical value are reproduced as they enter the Center, or impressions are made in the field and later cast in this shop. Generally, molds of originals are made of synthetic rubber and casts of resin. One craftsman runs this shop. 

I iopids lauBt i ways be warmed before pouring, and also lubricated (or fiuxed with beeswax or tallow. A hot-air blast is recommended for cleaning out the moulds after every third or fourth casting. 

Beeswax. White [8012-89-3] and yellow [8006 0 ] beeswax has been known for over 2000 years, especially through its use in the fine arts (2). References to wax prior to the nineteenth century are probably to beeswax. Beeswax is secreted by bees and is used to construct the combs in which bees store their honey. The wax is harvested by removing the honey and melting the comb in boiling water the melted product is then filtered and cast into cakes. The yellow beeswax cakes can be bleached with oxidizing agents to white beeswax, a product much favored in the cosmetic industry. Imports of beeswax into the United States for the years 1990—1995 are Hsted in Table 1. Historically, Brazil had long supplied the majority of beeswax to the United States, but now (ca 1997) other countries such as China, Thailand, and Canada supply the majority of the material imported into the United States (3). 

Beeswax, synthetic PEG-6 distearate PEG-2 laurate SE PEG-75 oleate PEG-2 stearate Stearamide DEA opacifier, toothpaste Magnesium aluminum silicate opacifier, vitreous enamels Barium fluoride opacifier, water treatment PEG-6 distearate opacifier, waxes Propylene glycol myristate opacifier, wood Beeswax, synthetic opacifier, x-ray diagnosis Bismuth subcarbonate opacifier enamels, cast iron and glass Sodium antimonate opaque glass mfg. 

Beeswax is a mixture of organic compounds such as unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, alcohols, and esters, and polybutadiene contains unsaturated alkenes Lifetime calculated for coating prepared by cast solution Lifetime for dip coated Lifetime for spin coated Source Data from Muller et al. (2011)... 

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