AN INVESTIGATION OF THE STRUCTURES AND MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS OF NATURAL WAXES .2. CARNAUBA WAX

Structural aspects and the molecular dynamics of carnauba wax are reported. X-ray diffraction results show that it crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell. DSC and proton spin-lattice measurements as a function of temperature revealed a premelting solid-solid transition at 335 K. The percentage of carbon atoms in methyl and methylene groups is approximately 12% less than in beeswax, whereas it has a much higher ester and carbonyl content. The average chain length in carnauba wax is 50 carbon atoms. Spin-spin relaxation measurements revealed that the reorientiational-translational motion of the chains is much more hindered than in beeswax. The motional parameters associated with the reorientations of the methyl groups have been isolated and compared with these parameters for similar motions in Fischer-Tropsch waxes and beeswax.