The main component of mineral oils and waxes is a higher alkane of C16 or higher obtained from petroleum. Representative raw materials are mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin and the like. It is a relatively low-priced raw material.


Mineral oil
Mineral oil, also known as white oil and liquid paraffin, is composed of saturated components of paraffinic hydrocarbons and naphthenes, and some contains trace amounts of aromatic hydrocarbons. Pure mineral oil is a colorless, transparent oily liquid with no odor. It is stable to acid, light and heat. It is insoluble in ethanol, soluble in ether, benzene, petroleum ether, etc., and is miscible with most fatty oils.


The amount of mineral oil used in the cream is generally 2% to 35%, which has the functions of moisturizing, cleaning and increasing oily feeling. At the same time, it can also reduce production costs.


Petrolatum
Mineral fat is commonly known as Vaseline. Its main component is a viscous solid which is removed from the residue left by petroleum under normal pressure and vacuum distillation. At the same time, different amounts of high and medium viscosity lubricating oils need to be mixed as required. The yellow wax paste removed from the petroleum residue contains many impurities. The petrolatum used in cosmetics should be clear about its entire refining process and can prove that the obtained material is not carcinogenic or odorous.


The refined petrolatum is odorless and translucent. Soluble in benzene, ether, petroleum ether, insoluble in water, alcohol, glycerin. Its chemical properties are stable, its melting point is 38 ° C ~ 45 ° C, with good water retention. It is often used as a base in cosmetics.


paraffin
Paraffin is a solid paraffin wax that is extracted from certain distillates of petroleum, shale oil or other bituminous mineral oils. It is a white or light yellow translucent material with a distinct crystal structure. According to the melting point, there are grades of 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 degrees.


Pure paraffin wax is a waxy solid, white, odorless and tasteless. Paraffin is insoluble in water, has low solubility in alcohols and ketones, and is easily soluble in carbon tetrachloride, ether, carbon disulfide, various mineral oils and most vegetable oils. The higher the melting point of paraffin, the lower the relative solubility and the more stable the chemical properties.


Ground wax
Ground wax is a common matrix material in cream cosmetics. It is a white to slightly yellow solid wax, odorless and tasteless. The melting point of the ground wax ranges from 60 to 90 ° C, is insoluble in water, and is soluble in ethanol, chloroform, diethyl ether, petroleum ether, turpentine, carbon disulfide, chloroform, mineral oil, and the like. The main component is a cyclical alkane and an isoparaffin having a long side chain of C25 or more and a small amount of a linear alkane and an aromatic hydrocarbon. It has an amorphous appearance and strong lipophilic ability. The ground wax is mainly prepared by using a petroleum wax for the purification and dewaxing of wax residue as a raw material.