Beeswax

Beeswax is a natural waste product of bees which they emit only during the vigorous activity.
In order that bees intensively emitted wax, are necessary existence in a family of a fetal uterus, good nectareous a bribe and pollen in the nature. At simultaneous performance of all these conditions eight wax glands of a bee located on a paunch spontaneously begin to emit wax in the form of the thinnest transparent wax plates, each of which weighs in sredkny 0,25 mg. The emitted wax under the influence of air stiffens on a surface of wax pocket mirrors. Further (with the participation of a bee in construction works) the bee removes wax plates from a paunch, kneads their zhvalam, adding a special secret, and uses for construction of sot. During activity of wax glands the voskovydeleniye at bees occurs involuntarily and continuously.
In the summer the strong family of bees weighing 5 kg is capable to allocate in 1-1,5 months prior to 1 kg of wax. On load of a family it is equivalent to accumulation by the person (taking into account his weight) primerkno 14-15 kg of fat during the same term.
Ability of bees to a voskovydeleniye and construction of sot are shown in a family as the complete interconnected biological system. Certain bees or even the small groups of bees having the developed voskovydelitelny glands out of a family are not capable to construction of sot.
On an apiary wax is received processing of the old and damaged sot, scraps (matochnik, wax superstructures, a zabrus), wax litter at the bottom of beehives. Processing of wax raw materials on an apiary is carried out in solar, water or steam wax refineries with use of temperatures to 100 °C which exceed wax melting temperature. There is also a way of a dry high-temperature perekrabotka of wax at temperatures up to 130-140 °C that allows to disinfect both a framework and the received wax.
Beeswax at the room temperature represents solid zhiropodobny substance, fine-grained on a break. Its coloring fluctuates from almost colourless, yellow to brown.
Wax is lighter than water as its specific weight is less than unit. Wax melting temperature strongly depends on availability in it of various impurity.
Wax is insoluble in water, glycerin, we will dissolve in ethyl alcohol a little. When heating it is completely dissolved in gasoline, turpentine, acetone, in fat oils, animal fats and some other substances.
Wax contains esters, hydrocarbons, organic acids, various alcohols. Besides, vegetable pigments, pitches, mineral and aromatic substances which give to wax its color and a smell are its part. The composition of the pasechny wax which passed damp processing includes a quantity (from 0,1 to 2,5%) of water in the form of an emulsion, that is water is in wax not in chemical, and in mechanical communication in the form of small impregnations of water between wax molecules.
In total wax contains about 300 razklichny substances which detailed definition is very difficult and labor-consuming. However it is precisely defined that all these substances "are constructed" of three elements — carbon (80%), hydrogen (13%) and oxygen (7%).
Color and smell of wax are caused by contents in it insignificant amounts of the painting and aromatic substances.
Color of wax depends on a number of factors. First, the white wax emitted by an organism of a bee is painted in yellow color from dissolution in it propolisny pitch. Secondly, yellow dye is extracted from some types of a perga, adjoining to which, wax gets yellow or orange coloring.
Normal beeswax has to have a pleasant honey smell which is caused by presence of the essential oils passing into wax from pollen. The liquid melted wax differs in stronger aroma, than firm.
Temperature of melting and hardening. Wax melts and stiffens in a certain interval of temperatures. Temperature of melting of wax fluctuates ranging from 62 to 68 °C, a temperaktur of hardening — from 61 to 70,5 °C.
Density. The relative density of beeswax at 20 °C fluctuates from 0,95 to 0,97, and averages 0,96, sledovatelkno, wax easier than water. On this indicator it is possible to carry out the simplest and available test of naturalness of wax — if to lower a piece of wax in water and it will sink, then it is an obvious counterfeit.
Main signs of natural wax:
1) pleasant honey smell; 2) uniform coloring of a surface (without any patterns); 3) to the touch wax low-fat and firm; 4) at a tsarapaniye the sharp end of metal (a nail, a knife) wax forms quite long shaving turning in a spiral; 5) at sharp blow the hammer the ingot of wax has to break up easily, forming opaque fine-crystalline structure on a break; 6) when burning a piece of natural wax the pleasant (palmar) smell has to be felt.
Wax is long since and widely used by the person. From natural wax, for certain, knows each of us about wax candles. However not everyone knows that some scientists claim that fire of such candle can be used perfectly for clarification of inhabited and working rooms and itself. Sometimes, to cope with an adverse psychological state it is enough to sit in silent loneliness near the burning candle. Candle fire also helps at diseases, facilitating their current and accelerating recovery.
Among all products of beekeeping wax has the widest scope of application. Further we will talk only about use of wax in cosmetics, medicine and in cookery.
Cosmetics. Beeswax is widely used in cosmetics, and some experts consider that no other wax can compete in this regard with bee. Wax is a part of the nutritious, knitting, cleaning, bleaching and other creams or masks, lipstick, blush, means for coloring of eyelashes and eyebrows, epilators, deodorants, protective ointments.
Preparations into which wax is entered give to skin velvet, softness, elasticity, smoothness. Beeswax increases absorption by skin of water liquids. It gives to creams a pearl-white look, brightness, these creams are well stored