Biobased Candle Composition Using Volatile Alkane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Candles made from vegetable oils and hydrogenated oils often suffer from fragility, cracking, surface defects, and combustion issues, and are frequently dependent on palm oil, which raises ecological concerns.
Innovation Solution
A biobased candle composition comprising 0-40% fatty alcohol, 3-10% volatile alkane with a flash point less than 180°C, 0-3% wax, 0-3% unsaponifiables, and 47-95% at least partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, free of palm oil, with a melting point between 45-55°C, and optionally including non-hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated vegetable oils, ensuring the composition is biobased and meets standards like EN15426 and ASTM.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If candles are made from vegetable oils and hydrogenated oils, then they are biobased and environmentally friendly, but they suffer from fragility, cracking, surface defects, and combustion issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining partially hydrogenated vegetable oil with specific additives (fatty acid esters, fatty acids, concrete oils) to create a candle composition that maintains the biobased advantage while eliminating the quality defects. The synergistic interaction between components resolves the contradiction between environmental friendliness and product reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the degree of hydrogenation of vegetable oils and selecting specific fatty acid esters and acids with particular molecular weights. These parameter adjustments transform the physical and chemical properties of the base oil to eliminate fragility and combustion issues while preserving the biobased character.
2Ease of manufacture
If palm oil is used in candle composition, then manufacturing cost and availability are improved, but ecological problems arise from palm oil cultivation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic element (palm oil) from the composition while retaining the functional benefits through substitution with alternative vegetable oils (soybean, rapeseed, sunflower) that can be partially hydrogenated to achieve similar performance characteristics without the ecological drawbacks of palm oil cultivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple alternative vegetable oils with specific fatty acid esters and concrete oils to create a composite formulation that collectively provides the desired properties previously achievable only with palm oil, thereby eliminating ecological harm while maintaining manufacturing viability.
3Manufacturing precision
If beeswax is added to vegetable oil mixture, then flow and surface problems are resolved, but the composition becomes less biobased due to animal origin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the animal-derived beeswax with plant-based alternatives (fatty acid esters, fatty acids, concrete oils from vegetable sources) that provide similar surface quality benefits. These plant-based substitutes serve the same functional purpose of improving surface finish and flow characteristics while maintaining 100% biobased status.
4Adaptability or versatility
If hydrogenation of liquid oils is performed, then dependence on concrete oils like coconut or palm oil is reduced, but fragility and combustion problems appear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial hydrogenation rather than full hydrogenation to the vegetable oils. This partial action provides enough structural modification to reduce dependence on specific concrete oils while avoiding the excessive hardening that causes fragility and combustion problems. The controlled degree of hydrogenation balances versatility with performance reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition results in candles that are strong, aesthetically pleasing, and have improved combustion performance, matching or exceeding the quality of mineral or animal origin waxes while being entirely biobased and palm oil-free.
Implementation Method 1
from 3 to 10% of at least one volatile alkane whose flash point is less than 180° C.
Implementation Method 2
from 0 to 40% of at least one fatty alcohol
Data Source
AI summary
A composition for a candle which is characterized in that it includes, in percent by weight: from 0 to 40% of at least one fatty alcohol, from 3 to 10% of at least one volatile alkane whose flash point is less than 180° C. from 0 to 3% of at least one wax, from 0 to 3% of at least one mixture of unsaponifiables, and from 47 to 95% of at least one at least partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.