Beewax
Author
FAO - AGSLanguage
EnglishDocument Type
Instructional ManualPublisher
FAOPages
4Commodities
honeyTopics
Food procurement and securityYear
2007Document Url
http://www.fao.org/3/a-au119e.pdfThe density of the wax at 15°C is 0.958 – 0.970 g/cm3 with melting point at a range from 61°C to 66°C or commonly 62°C to 65°C. Virgin beewax just after the combs is built has a bright white colour. But its color become yellow to tan with the first storage or brood cycle, and if several years old, contamination with cocoons, brood feces, propolis and other pigments may the combs reach a color from dark brown to almost black. Beeswax is an inert material with high plasticity at a relatively low temperature (around 32°C). By contrast, at this temperature most plant waxes are much harder and have crystalline structure. Beeswax is also insoluble in water and resistant to many acids, but is soluble in most organic solvents such as ether, benzine, benzol, chloroform, turpentine oil, as well as in alcohol and fatty oils after warming.