Ouricury wax

Description

A vegetable wax obtained from the leaves of the palm tree, Cocos coronapa, found in northeastern Brazil. Ouricury wax is very similar to carnauba, except that it has a greenish brown color that is difficult to bleach. Ouricury wax contains about 6% triterpenes. It is used as an inexpensive substitute for carnauba and is blended with carnauba to increase gloss.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Cocos coronapa; urucury

Risks

• Combustible.

Physical and CHemical Properties

• Acid number = 3.4-21.1
• Iodine value = 6.9-7.8
• Saponification value = 61.8-85.8
• Melting Point = 79-94 C
• Density = 0.970-1.053 g/ml

Comparisons

Properties of Natural Waxes

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 148; melting point = 85C, acid number = 10.6, iodine value = 16.9, saponification value = 78.8

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• John S. Mills, Raymond White, The Organic Chemistry of Museum Objects, Butterworth Heineman, London, 2nd ed., 1994

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: melting point=79.0-93.8, density=1.053, iodine value=6.9-7.8, acid value=3.4-21.1, saponification value=61.8-85.8