The article contains sections titled: 1. Introduction 1.1. History of Waxes and Their Applications 1.2. Definition 1.3. Classification 1.4. Properties and Uses 1.5. World Market Volume for Waxes 1.6. International Wax Organizations 2. Recent Natural Waxes 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Vegetable Waxes 2.2.1. Carnaúba Wax 2.2.2. Candelilla Wax 2.2.3. Ouricury Wax 2.2.4. Sugarcane Wax 2.2.5. Retamo Wax 2.2.6. Jojoba Oil 2.2.7. Other Vegetable Waxes 2.3. Animal Waxes 2.3.1. Beeswax 2.3.2. Other Insect Waxes 2.3.3. Wool Wax 3. Montan Wax 3.1. Formation and Occurrence 3.2. Extraction 3.3. Properties and Composition 3.4. Refining and Derivatization 3.4.1. Deresinification 3.4.2. Bleaching 3.4.3. Derivatization 3.5. Uses and Economic Aspects 4. Petroleum Waxes 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Macrocrystalline Waxes (Paraffin Waxes) 4.2.1. Chemical Composition and General Properties 4.2.2. Division into Product Classes 4.2.3. Occurrence of Raw Materials and Processing 4.2.3.1. Dewaxing Lubricating Oil Distillates 4.2.3.2. Deoiling Slack Waxes 4.2.3.3. Refining Deoiled Slack Waxes 4.2.4. Storage, Transportation, Commercial Forms, and Producers 4.2.5. Quality Specifications and Analysis 4.2.6. Uses 4.3. Microcrystalline Waxes (Microwaxes) 4.3.1. Chemical Composition and General Properties 4.3.2. Division into Product Classes 4.3.3. Occurrence of Raw Materials and Processing 4.3.4. Commercial Products and Producers 4.3.5. Quality Specifications and Analysis 4.3.6. Uses 4.4. Legal Aspects 4.5. Ecology 4.6. Economic Aspects 4.7. Candles 5. Fischer ‐ Tropsch Paraffins 6. Polyolefin Waxes 6.1. Production and Properties 6.1.1. Polyethylene Waxes by High‐Pressure Polymerization 6.1.1.1. Production 6.1.1.2. Properties 6.1.2. Copolymeric Polyethylene Waxes by High‐Pressure Polymerization 6.1.3. Polyolefin Waxes by Ziegler ‐ Natta Polymerization 6.1.3.1. Production 6.1.3.2. Properties 6.1.4. Degradation Polyolefin Waxes 6.1.4.1. Production 6.1.4.2. Properties 6.1.5. Polar Polyolefin Waxes 6.2. Uses 6.2.1. Nonpolar Polyolefin Waxes 6.2.2. Polar Polyolefin Waxes 6.3. Economic Importance 7. Toxicology

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As the primary component or as an additive with a content of less than three percent, waxes determine or modify the properties of the respective material system. The areas of application are numerous. The following article presents fundamental data on substance and structure as well as on the manufacture of important waxes. Functions and properties of various wax additives are explained in detail using the examples of powder coating, UV coatings, the processing of technical thermoplastics, cleaning products, and plant protection products.

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