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The Effect of Candle Wax Hardness on the
Burning Time of a Candle |
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Researched by Jordan K.
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PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to find the effect of candle wax hardness on the burning time of a candle.
I became interested in this idea when I observed a candle in my home and wondered what made it burn for such a long time. I also thought there might be ways to make it burn even longer.
The information gained from this experiment could help candle makers produce longer burning candles. Decorative candles are expensive, so users would want them to last as long as possible. Also people need candles in case of a power outage. They need candles they can rely on to burn as long as the outage lasts.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis was the more hardener that was put in the wax the longer the candle would burn.
I based my hypothesis on an article found on the internet site, http://www.houseoftuscany.com/hand-made_beeswax_candle_covers_(sleeves).htm, which said, “We put hardeners into our candles so that they prevent and resist melting.”
EXPERIMENT DESIGN
The constants in this study were:
• The size of the candle made
• The lighting device
• The place where each candle is kept
• The air movement in the room during testing
• The air temperature
• Method for making the candles
The manipulated variable was the hardness of candle wax.
The responding variable was the amount of time each candle burned.
To measure the responding variable, I used a stopwatch to determine how long each candle burned.
MATERIALS
| QUANTITY | ITEM DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | Block of paraffin wax |
| 1 | Hardener |
| 1 | Pot |
| 1 | Pencil or Pen |
| 2 | Pieces of Paper |
| 1 |
Stop Watch |
| 1 | Glass 2 cup measuring cup |
| 24 | tea light containers |
| 24 | votive wicks with metal stop tabs |
| 1 | measuring scale (triple beam balance) |
| 1 | coffee can |
| 1 | wax melting thermometer |
| 1 | wooden stir stick |
| 1 | deep sided cookie sheet with tin-foil liner |
| 4 | tin foil cups |
PROCEDURES
I. Get materials
1) Block of
paraffin wax.
2) Hardener
3) An old pot to melt wax in (the wax will ruin this pot!)
4) A pencil, paper, and a stopwatch
2) Hardener
3) An old pot to melt wax in (the wax will ruin this pot!)
4) A pencil, paper, and a stopwatch
II. Make the candles
1) Break 3-4
large pieces of wax and melt in a boiling water bath.
2) Treat with hardener
5) Repeat steps 2-3 except add 18g. of hardener and label this batch “3x”
6) Repeat steps 2-3 except add 36g. of hardener and label this batch “4x”
7) Repeat steps 2-3 except add 0g. of hardener and label this batch “control”
2) Treat with hardener
a. Measure
hardener in grams using a triple beam balance.
b. Add 4.5g. of hardener to 250ml. of melted wax and name this batch “1x”.
3) Form first batch into candlesb. Add 4.5g. of hardener to 250ml. of melted wax and name this batch “1x”.
a. Make 5-10
candles in the molds.
b. Label this batch as in step 2.
4) Repeat steps 2-3 except add 9g. of hardener and
label this batch “2x”b. Label this batch as in step 2.
5) Repeat steps 2-3 except add 18g. of hardener and label this batch “3x”
6) Repeat steps 2-3 except add 36g. of hardener and label this batch “4x”
7) Repeat steps 2-3 except add 0g. of hardener and label this batch “control”
III. Starting the Experiment
1) When the wax
cools take the wick and cut it to the preferred size (1cm. above the
candle wax)
2) Then get out the pencil and paper and be ready to record
3) Find the stopwatch and set it so that it will record time
4) Separate the groups so that all candles are about three centimeters apart
5) Next light the candles and start the stopwatch
6) When any given candle stops burning write down the time it stopped and which hardener group it was in
2) Then get out the pencil and paper and be ready to record
3) Find the stopwatch and set it so that it will record time
4) Separate the groups so that all candles are about three centimeters apart
5) Next light the candles and start the stopwatch
6) When any given candle stops burning write down the time it stopped and which hardener group it was in
RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to find the effect of candle wax hardness on the burning time of a candle.
The results of the experiment were that the control group had an average burn time was 150.8 minutes. The group with 4.5 grams of hardener had an average burn time of 155.7 minutes. The group with 9 grams of hardener had an average burn time of 173.8 minutes. The group with 18 grams of hardener had an average of 182.3 minutes, and the group with 32 grams of hardener had an average of 182.7 minutes.
See the table and graph below.
CONCLUSION
My original hypothesis was the harder the wax the slower the candle would burn.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should be accepted, because as shown in the graph, the candles with the more hardener burned longer than the ones with little or no hardener. It did appear that there was very little additional effect above 18 grams of hardener, however.
After thinking about the results of this experiment, I wonder if the candles’ burn time would be affected by different types of waxes instead of different amounts of hardener. I could test beeswax vs. paraffin, paraffin vs. soy wax, or paraffin vs. gel candles.
I feel a little uncomfortable knowing that I had some outliers in my experiment. If I were to conduct this project again I would replicate my experiment except that I would make more batches of candles for each hardener amount. Although I was careful this time I would be more careful with watching the time the wax was melted, the volume of paraffin in the candle molds, the wick placement, and the air movement during the burning time.
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Introduction
Candles are used for many things. They can be used for light, scent,
heat, and decoration. People have a need for light in a power outage.
That is why candles are still important.Wax
CharacteristicsWax is a fatty substance widely used as protective coating for some surfaces. It resists air, water, and chemical change. Most wax turns solid at room temperature and softens when heated. The word wax comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “weax”, which means “beeswax”. There are three main kinds of wax; mineral wax, animal wax, and vegetable wax. A standard block of paraffin wax weighs somewhere between 10 and 11lbs. The blocks of wax measure about one to two inches x 11 inches x 19 inches. Most blocks of paraffin are translucent around the outside, but milky white in the middle. Some have bubbles, sometimes scales; fine cracks that may crumble apart, while others appear to be smooth and solid. Hardness Wax is measured by a process called “needle penetration” which is how far a needle can penetrate the wax at the temperature of 77 degrees F. the higher the depth, the softer the wax. The shallower the depth the harder the wax. Soft wax is recommended for container candles and votive candles, medium wax is recommended for pillars, and hard wax is recommended for hurricane shells and overdips. Fumes Paraffin wax is non-toxic, so the scent you smell that is coming from hot melted wax is harmless, but may cause a reaction of nausea of dizziness with individuals who have sensitive olfactory systems. History of Wax PARAFFIN WAX—Paraffin is classified as natural wax. It is the most commonly used wax for candle making. It can be said to come ultimately from plant life. To protect themselves from bad weather, plants produce a layer of wax on their leaves and stems. The material from dead plants 100-700 million years ago accumulated in large deposits and become buried under the Earths surface. After long periods of time, forces of heat and pressure turned slowly decaying plant material into crude oil known as “petroleum”. Because of the nature of waxes, being inert and water repellent, they were unaffected by decomposition of plant material and remained intact, suspended by crude oil. Petroleum companies “harvests” crude oil and processes it. They refine oil, separating different properties into gasoline, kerosene, lubrication oil, and many other products. In many cases wax that’s in petroleum is considered unwanted and is refined out. The refinery will process wax into clean, clear liquid or as a solid, milky white block and make it available to companies who may have a use for it. Refined wax is called paraffin. The word paraffin comes from the Latin word “parum” which means “few or without” and “affins” which means “connection or attraction (affinity)”. There are few substances that will chemically react or bind to this type of wax. BEESWAX—beeswax is the least common, but more highly renowned wax for candle making. Beeswax is classified as natural wax. A honeybee uses wax to make honeycombs. Beeswax is actually a refinement of honey. The female worker bee eats the honey and her body converts the sugar in the honey into wax. The wax is then expelled from the bees’ body in the form of scales beneath the abdomen. The bee will then remove the wax scale and chew it up, mixing it with saliva to soften and make it pliable enough to work with. They will then attach the wax mixture to the comb that is being constructed. Usually another bee will take the piece of wax that was just attached to the comb, chew it more, adding more saliva, and deposit it on the other section of the comb. As the combs are built up, honey is deposited inside, and then combs are capped with more wax. Since several worker bees construct at the same time, and the hive is constantly active with other bees flying around and walking on combs, depositing foreign matter onto them, the composition of wax is very complex. As is the case with paraffin, collecting beeswax is also a byproduct of a separate process. Beekeepers main interest is the collection of honey. The wax capping must be removed in order to extract honey. They then save the wax cappings until they collect enough to put out on the market. Because beeswax is harvested in small amounts, it does not have the same availability that paraffin does and is therefore more expensive. Beeswax is used extensively in cosmetics and candle making. Candles made of 100% beeswax generally are held in high regard. When burning, the beeswax candle will glow beautifully and give out a very pleasant honey like aroma. Effect of Heating and Cooling When melted wax heats up, it expands and increases in volume. The liquid wax cools and solidifies from the outside to the inside. As the wax cools it goes through stages: cloudiness, slush like consistency, paste like mass, and finally a solid. Paraffin is crystalline in nature so as it cools, crystals “grow” in phases inward toward the center of the mass. Since wax contracts as it cools, people often find exposed surfaces become concave or “sink” in. This is part of the nature of paraffin wax, and although it may be minimized, it can’t be prevented. Melt Point The melt point is when the liquid wax starts to turn from solid to liquid. Candle making wax probably needs to be heated at 190 degrees F. regardless of the melting point, but that’s just a base line reference. Different techniques may take different wax temperatures. Bringing wax up to 190 degrees F. helps facilitate incorporation of dyes and additives. Flash Point Most paraffin waxes have a flash point around 395 degrees F. When reaching this point the wax will not smoke or bubble, it will just explode, splattering flaming wax in all directions. To avoid this catastrophe one should always use a double boiling method to melt the wax. Water boils at 212 degrees F. that is well below the paraffin flash point. Tallowtree The tallowtree is the name of several trees that produce wax that can be used like tallow for candles. Today, usually mineral wax is used for candle making instead of tallow. In the past, the tree used for tallow was called the Chinese Tallowtree. The seeds of the tree hang on wax-like threads among the leaves. Workers crush and boil the capsules. The seeds are skimmed off the tallow as it rose to the surface. The tallow is then melted and refined. The Chinese Tallowtree has been planted as a shade tree along the streets in the Southeastern United States for more than 100 years. Now the Chinese Tallowtree grows wild in areas along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Their leaves flutter in the slightest breeze and give it the appearance of a Poplar Tree. They are especially beautiful when their leaves turn brilliantly red in the autumn. Candles What is a Candle A candle is a device for providing light or giving out fragrance. The body of a candle is comprised of a solid fuel source usually called paraffin wax. A wick runs through the center of the candle body from the bottom extending out of the top. The wick, which acts as a fuel pump when the candle is burning, is generally made of cotton fibers braided together. Soot stained stone dishes found in ancient caves in France show that Stone Age men used candles to light the cave walls as they painted them. The saucer shaped stone appears to have held a piece of animal fat that could be set fire to give light. Ancient Egyptians knew how to dip beeswax or tallow onto rush stems. They would set flame to the tip of “Rush Lights” to provide light. Today we don’t rely on candles to light our homes except in the event of a power outage. Candles are now used for decorative or religious purposes to create a mood with a hypnotic glow. Soothing fragrances please our sense of smell. They often represent symbols of our personal faiths. The candle is the light, the body, and the soul of our modern imaginations. People can obtain candles in a variety of styles. The main types of candles are the Taper, Formal, Pillar, Column, Container, and the Votive. The two main waxes for candle making are paraffin and beeswax. How a Candle Wick Works A candle without a wick is just a hunk of candle wax, the wick is what makes a candle a candle. Likewise, a wick without the wax is just a piece of string. The earliest known candle was basically just a wick like material coated with tallow or beeswax. It didn’t even really resemble a candle at all. The taper candle’s wick supports the first layers of wax that create the candle. The wick acts as a fuel pump, supplying liquefied wax up to the top where all of the action takes place. Different size wicks allow different amounts of wax up to the top area providing different size flames. The wick is probably the most important part of the candle. The word “wick” comes from the Old English word “weyke” or “wicke”. It also comes from the Anglo Saxon word “wecca” and the Germanic word “wieche” or “wicke”. The bundle of fibers when twisted together is used to draw oil or wax up into the flame to burn in the lamp or candle. Because the wick is fibrous and absorbent, melted wax is attracted to it. Dipping the wick in and out of the melted wax builds a layer of wax around the wick, enough to make a Taper candle. The wick works by a principle called “capillary action”. The wick made of cotton fibers spun into thread, which is then bundled and braided together. The spaces between the cotton fibers, threads, and braids act as capillaries, which cause liquids to go into them. If someone were to place a drop of water on a paper towel, the drop would be absorbed and the wet spot would expand. Where the expansion occurs is where the capillary action is taking place, the candle wick absorbs the same way. Candle wicking is available in several different types. The most popular is the flat braid of the regular wick. The different size of the wick, the different size of the flame, that is simply because of the number of threads in each bundle. Each thread is considered plait or ply, given the number of ply bundled together. The flat braid wick had three bundles braided together. It is braided in such a manner that all three bundles lie flat. Surface Effects The higher the temperature the wax is when it’s poured, the finer the finish will be on the exterior of the candle. 170 degrees F. is a good temperature for votive candles that are made with low melt points. For a rustic or “cold pour” look, pour the wax at about 10 degrees above the melt point of the wax. Summary In conclusion, because people need light, candles often fulfill that need. Light is important because people need it in a power outages and candles can be used for that purpose. Since candles are expensive, people will want candles that burn longer, or at least as long as the power outage. |
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Blewitt, Richard F. “Wax.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2004. Doneen St. John of The Candle Cauldron. “Candles.” Candles Dictionary. 1997. <http://www.candlecauldron.com/dictionary.html> Flint, Harrison L. “Tallowtree.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2004. General Wax and Candle Company. “Candle Wax.” The Basics of Wax and Candles. 2003. http://candles.genwax.com/candle_instructions/___0___wax_cndl_basics.html Miller, Marcianne. Fantastic Gel Candles, 2002. Zehnder, Kirk Lee. “Candles.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2004. |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
• My parents for paying for all my experimental objects, for helping me correct my experiment so that I didn’t catch fire to the kitchen and for giving me transportation to the places I needed to go.
• Mr. Newkirk for letting me borrow a triple beam balance.
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