• Plastic ( soft or malleable) at normal ambient temperatures
• A melting point above approximately 45 °C.
• A  relatively low viscosity when melted (unlike many plastics)
• Insoluble in water
• Hydrophobic

We shall be discussing here on the waxes which are only being used in the rubber and plastic industry. Beeswax, perhaps , is the first wax which used by human in the beginning of our civilization, was one of the important renewable source of fuel. The honey comb formed by bees has typical hexagonal geometric pattern (Fig.1). Bees wax is used in tire building drum, if the rubber is too sticky, it can also be used in two roll mill to take care of rubber sticking to the rolls. It is frequently being used in the BC, MC, PC, TB  inner-tube making industry during pre-forming operation in the green stage when inner-tubes are expanded under mild air pressure just before curing in mold.

The main commercial source of wax is, however, crude oil but not all crude oil refiners produce wax. "Mineral" wax can also be produced from lignite. Plants, animals and even insects produce materials sold in commerce as "wax". There are five categories of waxes being used in rubber industries :

• Bees Wax
• Paraffin Wax - made of long-chain alkane hydrocarbons
• Microcrystalline Wax - with very fine crystalline structure
• Chlorinated Paraffin Wax
• Polyethylene Wax
• Chlorinated Polyethylene Wax

The major uses of petroleum based waxes are in rubber, cosmetics and in Candle industry. They are generally white in color but show usual brown color (Fig.2) due to contaminated with oil traces. Two types of waxes, in general, are used in rubber industry, Paraffinic wax and Microcrystalline wax. Its normal dose is 1-3 phr and high level of wax impairs low temperature flexibility and compression set. Rubber compounder considers wax as a very important processing aid because it has following advantages:

• Improves mixing properties

  

   

• Improves dispersion of filler and other ingredients
• Improves extrusion properties
• Improves upon extrudate and calendared surface finish
• Protects surface and acts as antioxidant /antiozonate

Paraffin and Microcrystalline waxes are derived from petroleum. They are easy to recover and offer a wide range of physical properties that can often be tailored by refining processes. Most producers offer two distinct types of petroleum waxes: paraffins, which are distinguished by large, well formed crystals; and microcrystallines, which are higher melting waxes with small, irregular crystals. Microcrystalline wax contains substantial proportions of branched and cyclic saturated hydrocarbons in addition to normal alkanes.

Some producers also sell "intermediate" wax, in which the boiling range is cut where the transition in crystal size and structure occur. Petroleum wax producers also characterize wax by degree of refinement; fully refined paraffin has oil content generally less than 0.5% and fully-refined micro-crystalline less than 3%. Paraffin wax produced from petroleum is essentially a pure mixture of normal and iso-alkanes without the esters, acids, etc. found in the animal and vegetable-based waxes.

Paraffin wax (or simply "paraffin") is mostly found as a white, odorless, tasteless, waxy solid, with a typical melting point between about 47-64 °C  and having a density of around 0.9 g/cm³. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in ether, benzene, and certain esters. Paraffin is unaffected by most common chemical reagents, but burns readily. Paraffin wax is generally unbranched hydrocarbon having carbon above C₁₇ and  are solid at room temperature. Their carbon atoms typically ranges between C₁₇ - C₃₀ and having typical melting point around 60°C. All paraffinic wax are recovered from fractional distillation of petroleum.The name paraffin implies that it contains straight hydrocarbon structure but it has branch also. Branched paraffins are called ‘Isoparafins’ and cyclic parafins are called ‘Cresines’ or ‘Isoceresies’.

Pure paraffin wax dose in rubber compounding varies from 1-3 phr. Pure paraffin wax is rarely used these days in rubber industry as it has oozing character and in excess it causes blooming on green rubber components, that results in reduction in compound tack. They are frequently blended with microcrystalline wax in rubber compounding therefore.

Pure paraffin wax is an excellent electrical insulator, with an electrical resistivity of between 10¹³ and 10¹⁷ ohm meter. This is better than nearly all other materials except some plastics (notably teflon or polytetrafluoroethylene). It is an effective neutron moderator and was used in James Chadwick's 1932 experiments to identify the neutron. Paraffin wax (C₂₅H₅₂) is an excellent material to store heat, having a specific heat capacity of 2.14–2.9 J g^–1 K^–1 (joule per gram per kelvin) and a heat of fusion of 200–220 J g^–1(joule per gram). This property is exploited in modified drywall for home building material.

Microcrystalline waxes: This is produced by de-oiling petrolatum, as part of the petroleum refining process. Microcrystalline wax contains a higher percentage of isoparaffinic (branched) hydrocarbons and naphthenic hydrocarbons. It is characterized by the fineness of its crystals in contrast to the larger crystal of paraffin wax. It consists of high molecular weight saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons with comparatively higher melting point than paraffinic wax. It is generally darker, more viscous, denser, tackier and more elastic than paraffin waxes. The elastic and adhesive characteristics of microcrystalline waxes are related to the non-straight chain components which they contain. Typical microcrystalline wax crystal structure is small and thin, making them more flexible than paraffin wax. It is commonly used in rubber formulation and cosmetic formulations.

Its usual carbon atom ranges from C₄₀–C₇₀ , having comparatively higher melting point (Fig.4) between 80-105 ⁰C because they have higher number of carbon. Common dose in rubber compounding is between 1-3 phr. Some time higher dose of  100% Micro crystalline wax is difficult to process and as a result they are often blended with paraffinic wax for rubber use. Blending is also done for economical reasons as microcrystalline wax is comparatively costlier. Paraffinic wax, having smaller molecular weight bleeds faster in cured rubber article, whereas, 100% micro crystalline wax  will have inherent resistance to faster volatilization and eventually, blended wax will have an intermediate property. Refineries may also utilize blending facilities to combine paraffin and microcrystalline waxes. This type of activity is prevalent especially for industries such as tire and rubber industries.

Higher dose of antioxidant and anti ozonates are always advised to add along with microcrystalline wax because the later help slower migration of antioxidant and antiozonates on the product surface and thereby increase on the product durability against ageing process. Tire curing bladder is often blended with 1-3 phr of microcrystalline wax.

Chlorinated Paraffin Wax

Upon chlorination of paraffinic wax we get Chlorinated Paraffin Wax(CPW). This is available in batch process that is processed from effective exothermic reaction. This reaction generates a by-product hydrochloric acid that is later removed out of the solution. Finally stabilizer and solution is mixed that provide the required final product, which is used in various industrial applications. With 30 to 70% chlorine and insolubility in water, these CPWs have low vapor pressure. Chlorinated Paraffin Wax is highly inert, insoluble in water and they have low vapor pressure. Generally used as plasticizers in plastic and elastomers, where flame retardant property is important.

Polyethylene waxes (PE-Wax)

Polyethylene waxes or PE-Wax is same familiar polyethylene chemical structure (Fig.5) but with lower molecular weight , generally around or less than 3000.This is a processing aid in elastomer and plastics but basically they are a form of synthetic resins. It is a white solid product (Fig.6) appears in the market as powdery, lumpy, or flaky product. It is a non-toxic product having concentrated distribution of molecular weight of 1500 with specific gravity about 0.94 with high softening point but low fusion viscosity with melting point; 112 - 118°C, melt peak 110 °C, flash point 210°C, minimum. It has excellent stability against polishing, scratch resistance, metal mark resistance, scuff resistance. PE-Wax is resistant to water and chemical materials.

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The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) forecasts total US tyre shipments of 338.9 million units in 2026, up from 336.3 million units in 2025 and 332.7 million units in 2019. This figure beats the previous record of 337.3 million units in 2024.

Compared with 2025, Original Equipment (OE) the 2026 shipments for passenger, light truck and truck tyres are expected to change by 0.8 percent, 1.2 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively, with a total increase of 0.8 million units. Replacement passenger, light truck and truck tyre shipments are also projected to change by 0.6 percent, 0.8 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively, with a total increase of 1.7 million units.

 (Note: All shipments in millions. Figures are rounded up.)

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The construction industry witnessed a significant milestone in materials innovation at the recent World of Concrete 2026 exhibition. The newest addition to Bekaert's renowned Dramix steel fibre family, the Dramix Loop, has been distinguished with the prestigious Industry Choice Award in the 'Concrete Slab Materials' category. This accolade, determined by the direct votes of industry professionals including engineers, contractors and key decision-makers engaged in construction projects, is a testament to the product's resonance with those who have hands-on experience in the field.

The recognition at World of Concrete 2026 marks a notable achievement for Bekaert, as it underscores the growing industry support for circular solutions in construction. The Dramix Loop, designed to align with sustainable development goals, stood out among a competitive field of innovators all striving towards a more environmentally responsible future. The award serves as a powerful indicator that circular economy principles are not only gaining traction but are also being embraced by the wider construction community as viable and valuable approaches to modern building challenges.

This latest honour represents another significant step forward in the journey of the Dramix Loop steel fibres. The acknowledgment from peers and professionals highlights the importance of innovation that genuinely moves the construction industry forward. Bekaert has expressed its appreciation to all those who participated in the voting process, acknowledging their role in supporting this advancement. Furthermore, gratitude was extended to the organisers of the World of Concrete for their continued dedication to showcasing and celebrating groundbreaking developments that shape the future of construction materials and techniques.

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The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) has released its Monthly NR Statistical Report for January 2026, providing an overview of key developments in the global natural rubber sector.

As per the report, a notable price rise was observed this month, driven by a combination of surging crude oil prices and heightened demand from tyre manufacturers, especially in China.

Below is a summary of the latest trends and data points defining the NR sector:

Global NR production is expected to rise by 2.2 percent in 2026 to an estimated 15.324 million tonnes, according to recent statistics from ANRPC member countries. Global demand for consumption is expected to increase by 1.4 percent to around 15.602 million tonnes annually.

The tyre industry's recovery indications reinforce the market's resilience in the face of several global economic headwinds. The current state of the market indicates a time of consolidation. This comes after recent price increases and before the cyclical wintering season, which runs from February to May and is traditionally characterised by a more constrained worldwide supply.

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Bekaert has achieved a significant sustainability milestone by securing ISCC PLUS certification for its steel tyre reinforcement products. This accomplishment highlights the company's dedication to driving innovation and working closely with tyre manufacturers to promote the widespread use of materials with high recycled content.

Historically, steel used for tyre reinforcement was not covered by ISCC PLUS. However, a partnership between Bekaert, ISCC and the certification body TÜV NORD successfully developed a structured certification path for tyre cord and bead wire with high recycled content. TÜV NORD played a key role by auditing Bekaert’s Burgos facility during a pilot phase, technically validating that the ISCC PLUS framework could be effectively applied to steel-based products. This validation paves the way for its wider acceptance in the tyre sector.

This certification builds upon the foundation laid by Bekaert’s own Recycled Content Standard, which previously set an industry benchmark for traceability and sustainable practices. The earlier standard's success was instrumental in encouraging ISCC to broaden its certification framework to encompass steel products. Although the Bekaert standard will remain valid during the transition, ISCC PLUS now offers a globally acknowledged system that guarantees uniformity and clear traceability throughout the entire supply chain.

This certification positions Bekaert as a leader in advancing certified tyre reinforcement, fostering industry-wide acceptance and generating shared benefits with tyre makers. For manufacturers, utilising ISCC PLUS-certified materials lends credibility to their sustainability assertions, simplifies the certification landscape and aids in meeting regulatory and market demands. Furthermore, their customers continue to gain from Bekaert’s dependable supply chain, which is now enhanced by verified sustainable sourcing.

Annie Xu, President – Rubber Reinforcement, Bekaert, said, "Achieving ISCC PLUS certification demonstrates our leadership in certified steel with high recycled content for tyre reinforcement. We are proud to have worked closely with ISCC and TÜV NORD to shape this framework, which will help our customers stay ahead of sustainability and regulatory expectations."

An ISCC representative said, "We welcome the successful completion of the certification process for steel tyre reinforcement under ISCC PLUS. This demonstrates that the ISCC framework can be applied to additional material categories while maintaining our established requirements for traceability and verification."

Samir Beqqal, Head of Carbon Traceability Business Entity Sustainability, TÜV NORD CERT, said, "Working with Bekaert and ISCC on this pilot certification was an important step towards applying ISCC PLUS principles to new material categories like steel. We are delighted that we were able to contribute our expertise to this process and help ensure that certified traceability and sustainability assurance can also be effectively extended to industrial materials now.”

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