Wax, carnauba

• BPCarnauba Wax
• JPCarnauba Wax
• Ph. Eur.Carnauba Wax
• USP–NFCarnauba Wax

Brazil wax; caranda wax; cera carnauba; palm wax; E903

Wax obtained from the leaves of Copernicia cerifera (Copernicia prunifera) · [8015-86-9]

Polymer, mixture or material of variable composition — no single molecular formula applies.

Coating agent, film former

Typical concentrations: — · Dosage forms: Solid

Used mainly as a polishing agent for sugar-coated and film-coated tablets, applied in very small amounts as a fine powder or as a solution or emulsion, to give a glossy finish. It is also used in controlled-release matrices and melt-processed products, as a stiffener in topical preparations and cosmetics such as lipsticks, and as a glazing agent in foods.

Light brown to pale yellow powder, flakes or irregular lumps of hard, brittle wax with a characteristic bland odour and practically no taste. It consists mainly of esters of long-chain fatty acids and fatty alcohols, with free acids, alcohols, hydrocarbons and resins.

Melting range

about 80–88 °C

Acid value

2–7

Saponification value

about 78–95

Solubility

soluble in warm chloroform and warm toluene; slightly soluble in boiling ethanol (95%); practically insoluble in water

Hardness

one of the hardest natural waxes; brittle at room temperature

Stable. Store in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place.

Incompatible with strong oxidising agents.

The leaves of the Brazilian carnauba palm are cut and dried, and the wax that forms on their surface is beaten off, melted, strained and refined; it may be bleached.

Used in oral pharmaceuticals, foods and cosmetics and regarded as essentially non-toxic and non-irritant. Rare cases of contact allergy have been reported from cosmetic use.

Observe normal precautions for the quantity handled. Take care with hot molten wax; eye protection is recommended.

GRAS listed. Accepted as a food additive in Europe (E903). Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredient Database (oral capsules and tablets) and in non-parenteral medicines licensed in Europe.

Wax, microcrystalline; wax, white; wax, yellow; candelilla wax.

For polishing, a small amount of powdered wax is tumbled with warm, dry coated tablets in a polishing pan; using too much wax gives a dull, patchy surface. Its high melting point makes it useful for raising the melting point and hardness of softer wax blends.