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Lab Testing

On-Site Laboratory Testing Ensures Precision and Quality

Our on-site laboratory uses scientifically proven wax quality control testing methods in addition to ASTM guidelines for consistent quality assurance.

We provide wax research and development, technical assistance, troubleshooting and wax properties lab testing for our products and yours.

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Lab Equipment

At Blended Waxes, we use up-to-date technology and lab equipment to perform various tests to determine a sample’s quality, content, color and consistency. On-site wax lab testing instruments and capabilities include:

 

  • Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC): We use thermal analysis to calculate heat flow and its impact on the material’s composition. The technique is highly accurate in controlled lab settings to measure wax melting points. It also produces results quickly to keep projects on schedule.
  • Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR): The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer first made its way into labs conducting advanced research in the 1960s. Many quality assurance professionals regard the equipment as a gold standard for testing. These spectrometers test infrared wavelength to identify the chemical composition of samples, a must in precision applications.
  • Autoviscometer: Blended Waxes’ lab uses the autoviscometer to test kinematic viscosity, an essential measurement in manufacturing using petroleum-based products. These test results help ensure products are in good condition and consistent across different manufacturing lots.
  • Brookfield Viscometer: Brookfield Viscometers are valuable for wax lab testing to identify viscosity with rotational torque methods. In addition, these viscometers offer high degrees of accuracy for reliability.
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Machine: ICP testing methods create free atoms with plasma to produce a wide range of measurements. Results of ICP tests detect trace elements. This chemical analysis is beneficial to identify metal elements within a sample .
  • Karl Fischer Water Analyzer: These machines — a specialized form of a titrator — are sophisticated and highly accurate equipment for identifying precise water content. Too much moisture can foster early oxidation, so these measurements are essential to prevent excess liquid levels.
  • Needle Penetrometer: These devices use a sharp spindle to apply force to a sample over a period of time, measuring the hardness and softness of waxes. Highly controlled specimen and ambient temperatures produce accurate results that are easy to compare across different batches for product consistency.
  • Autotitrator: This equipment produces highly accurate measurements of acid and peroxide values by introducing a specific quantity of a solution — the titrant — into a sample. The known properties of the titrant make an analysis of the resulting chemical reactions possible.
  • Particle Size Analyzer: Blended Waxes maintains particle size analyzers to detect particle distribution and measure particle size. These machines are valuable for quality control and conforming to regulations in highly sensitive applications. In addition, results from particle size analysis report efficiencies in the manufacturing process and can indicate expected performance from finished goods.
  • Densitometer: Our densitometer equipment measures density and specific gravity with sophisticated technology to obtain the density of sample materials. Identifying and duplicating these results allows Blended Waxes to meet custom color specifications automatically, even with small sample sizes.
  • Gas Chromatograph (GC): We can separate the individual chemical elements within a sample to produce its unique composition mathematically. In other words, it provides a fingerprint of a wax or wax blend. Blended Waxes has the exact “recipe” to carry across multiple batches, ensuring consistent and precise product quality with the quantified results.
  • Lovibond Colorimeter: Lovibond is an industry leader in color analysis technology, and their Colorimeter measures color in natural waxes, including soy wax. Generally, color is a helpful index about the condition and type of industrial waxes. This equipment produces results quickly and accurately, allowing projects to proceed with peace of mind.
  • Automated Instrument: This equipment determines the melting point of a substance through thermal analysis. The repeated analysis produces an average value for assessing product purity.

 

 

  • Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Machine: ICP testing methods create free atoms with plasma to produce a wide range of measurements. Results of ICP tests detect trace elements. This chemical analysis is beneficial to identify metal elements within a sample .
  • Karl Fischer Water Analyzer: These machines — a specialized form of a titrator — are sophisticated and highly accurate equipment for identifying precise water content. Too much moisture can foster early oxidation, so these measurements are essential to prevent excess liquid levels.
  • Needle Penetrometer: These devices use a sharp spindle to apply force to a sample over a period of time, measuring the hardness and softness of waxes. Highly controlled specimen and ambient temperatures produce accurate results that are easy to compare across different batches for product consistency.
  • Autotitrator: This equipment produces highly accurate measurements of acid and peroxide values by introducing a specific quantity of a solution — the titrant — into a sample. The known properties of the titrant make an analysis of the resulting chemical reactions possible.
  • Particle Size Analyzer: Blended Waxes maintains particle size analyzers to detect particle distribution and measure particle size. These machines are valuable for quality control and conforming to regulations in highly sensitive applications. In addition, results from particle size analysis report efficiencies in the manufacturing process and can indicate expected performance from finished goods.
  • Densitometer: Our densitometer equipment measures density and specific gravity with sophisticated technology to obtain the density of sample materials. Identifying and duplicating these results allows Blended Waxes to meet custom color specifications automatically, even with small sample sizes.
  • Gas Chromatograph (GC): We can separate the individual chemical elements within a sample to produce its unique composition mathematically. In other words, it provides a fingerprint of a wax or wax blend. Blended Waxes has the exact “recipe” to carry across multiple batches, ensuring consistent and precise product quality with the quantified results.
  • Lovibond Colorimeter: Lovibond is an industry leader in color analysis technology, and their Colorimeter measures color in natural waxes, including soy wax. Generally, color is a helpful index about the condition and type of industrial waxes. This equipment produces results quickly and accurately, allowing projects to proceed with peace of mind.
  • Automated Instrument: This equipment determines the melting point of a substance through thermal analysis. The repeated analysis produces an average value for assessing product purity.

 

LAB REQUEST

Fill out the form below to contact us about our lab testing services or request a service.

    Top 5 Laboratory Wax Tests

    Laboratory tests are crucial when making a product. They ensure that the product is up to the right standards and will perform the way it is intended. Below are the top five laboratory tests used to test different properties of wax.

    1. Congealing Point

    Congealing point is a wax property that describes the temperature where the wax “sets” or begins to crystallize into the solid state. Different grades of waxes have different congealing points. The test used to determine the congealing point is called the Congealing Point of Petrolatums and Waxes. You can find out more about this test here.

    2. Hardness/Softness

    Waxes differ in how hard or soft they are, particularly petroleum waxes. The hardness/softness is important to know because it can have a significant effect upon other physical properties of a wax. The test that measures hardness or softness of a wax is the Needle Penetration of Petroleum Waxes. You can find out more about it here.

    3. Viscosity

    Viscosity is a measurement of how “thick” or “thin” a liquid is. For example, honey has a higher viscosity than water at a given temperature. This means that honey is a thicker liquid than water is. If you had two cups, one filled with water and the other filled with honey, and you tipped them upside down, the water would pour out right away and the honey would move much slower. Just like water or honey, wax has a viscosity too. One tool used to measure viscosity is a Brookfield Viscometer. You can find out more about Brookfield Viscometers here.

    4. Odor

    Odor may seem like a strange thing to test for in wax, but when wax is used in food packaging applications it is very important. The odor of the wax could alter the food it comes in contact with. The odor test measures the intensities of the odor of the wax on a scale (instead of in just descriptive terms). The test used is called the Standard Test for Odor of Petroleum Waxes. More information about this test can be found here.

    5. Infrared Scanning, DSC Analysis

    Infrared scanning tests the amount and how much of different substances are in the wax sample. It uses wavelength measurement and visible light to test for these substances. DSC analysis, or Differential Scanning Calorimetry, is a test that measures the amount of heat that is required to increase the temperature of the wax substance, which can then be used to interpret the melt point of a wax.

    These are just a few of the tests used to maintain proper quality throughout all wax products. For the full listing of tests we do at Blended Waxes, visit our wax quality control testing page on our website.

     

    5 Wax Lab Tests

    Throughout the wax blending process, we perform tests to ensure consistent, high-quality products with the desired properties, characteristics and results. Our on-site laboratory team uses a variety of scientifically proven wax quality control tests, including:

    1. D938

    This test measures the congealing point of petrolatums and waxes. The congealing point is the temperature where a liquid starts to harden. It is important to know the congealing point of waxes because, for different applications, the wax may need to stay liquid for a longer period of time.

    2. D87

    The D87-09 test is the standard test method for the melting point of petroleum waxes. Petroleum waxes include paraffin and microcrystalline wax. It is important for the wax to have a higher or lower melt point for different applications.

    3. D1833

    This lab test is standard for the odor of petroleum waxes. In some applications, like food packaging, the smell of the wax is an important property to test. This test uses a universal numerical scale to rate odor intensity of petroleum waxes.

    4. D1500

    The D1500-07 test measures the color of petroleum products, including petroleum waxes, lubricating oils, heating oils and diesel fuel oils. This test measures colors ranging from white to black. It can also measure for tint and depth of color in the product.

    5. D1321

    This test measures the needle penetration of petroleum waxes. It tests the consistency of the wax blend by penetrating a needle into the wax. The needle penetration amount is measured on a scale to determine hardness.

    Are you interested in learning more about the ASTM tests we use? Contact us.