Lipid-Based Wax Composition Preventing Fat Bloom

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional candle waxes made from paraffin emit smoke and particles when burned, posing health risks, and natural oil-based waxes suffer from issues like cracking, air pocket formation, and fat blooming, which affect their performance and shelf life.

Innovation Solution

Development of lipid-based wax compositions comprising specific ratios of triacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, and diacylglycerides, heated to destroy crystal structure, poured at temperatures above their congeal point, and cooled under controlled conditions to prevent fat blooming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If natural oil-based waxes are used as alternatives to paraffin, then health risks and smoke emission are reduced, but fat blooming and cracking occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoke and particle emissionVSAvoidfat blooming and cracking

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of natural oil-based waxes by incorporating specific ratios of saturated triglycerides, unsaturated triglycerides, and waxy esters. This compositional parameter change eliminates the polymorphic behavior that causes fat blooming while maintaining the health benefits of natural oil-based materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite wax material combining multiple types of triglycerides and waxy esters from natural oils. This composite structure integrates the advantages of different lipid components to achieve both clean burning characteristics and structural stability, preventing the cracking and blooming issues of pure natural oil waxes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If paraffin wax is used for candle production, then clean and stable burning is achieved, but smoke and harmful particles are emitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburning stabilityVSAvoidsmoke and particulates

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition from petroleum-based paraffin to natural oil-based triglycerides and waxy esters. This fundamental parameter change in the carbon chain structure and molecular composition enables clean burning without the harmful emissions associated with paraffin, while maintaining stable combustion characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If rapid cooling is applied to natural oil-based waxes, then production time is reduced, but less stable and less molecularly dense crystals form causing fat blooming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling and solidification timeVSAvoidcrystal stability and density

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates waxy esters and specific triglyceride combinations that pre-form stable crystal nuclei during the cooling process. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that even during rapid cooling, the wax molecules arrange into stable, dense crystal structures that resist fat blooming, eliminating the need for slow cooling while maintaining composition stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution results in candles that are free of fat bloom, offering a cleaner burning, stable, and aesthetically pleasing alternative to paraffin wax candles with improved shelf life and reduced health risks.

Implementation Method 1

blending the monoacylglycerides, diacylglycerides, and triacylglycerides in the lipid-based wax composition by heating the lipid-based wax composition at a sufficiently high temperature to destroy substantially all crystal structure within the lipid-based wax composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

cooling the lipid-based wax composition under conditions sufficient to cool the core of the molded wax to at least 5° C. below the congeal point of the lipid-based wax composition in approximately 30-90 minutes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentUS8876919B2Lipid-based wax compositions substantially free of fat bloom and methods of making

Publication Date: 2014.11.04 CARGILL INC

AI summary

Lipid-based wax compositions and their methods of making are provided for compositions substantially free of fat bloom. The compositions comprise approximately 7-80 percent by weight triacylglycerides and approximately 20-93 percent by weight monoacylglycerides and diacylglycerides combined. The methods comprise blending the monoacylglycerides, diacylglycerides, and triacylglycerides in the lipid-based wax composition by heating the lipid-based wax composition at a sufficiently high temperature to destroy substantially all crystal structure within the lipid-based wax composition. The methods further comprise pouring the lipid-based wax composition into a mold or a container having a surface and a core, wherein the pouring is conducted at a temperature at least 15° C. greater than the congeal point of the lipid-based wax composition. The methods further comprise cooling the lipid-based wax composition under conditions sufficient to cool the core to at least 5° C. below the congeal point of the lipid-based wax composition in approximately 30-90 minutes.