geewj
Jan 22, 2008, 01:47 AM
Do it now!
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Research Paper
The History of Candles
Some of the first candles in colonial America were made by picking bayberries and then boiling them to get their wax. However, taking the wax from the bayberries took up a lot of time. Because of this, the making of bayberry candles soon ended. Later in 1850, people started making candles with paraffin wax made from oil and coal shales. Paraffin wax was good because when it burned, it was clean, it didn't have a bad smell and it was at a low cost. Paraffin wax is still the most used wax today and it is used all over the world.
Candles Today
There are other waxes today that are used to make candles. Beeswax is used all around the world but it is used less than paraffin wax. Stearin candle wax is mostly used by people in Europe. Some other ways to make candles use soy wax, palm wax, gels or synthetic waxes.
The way that candles are made can differ. Most of them are made by dipping a cotton wick into wax. The candles are then dipped, molded or shaped, pressed or rolled into a certain shape. Even though candles are not our main source of light today, they are still being used by many people all around the world. Candles are used for celebrations, ceremonies, for decoration, and to look romantic.
Candles should be placed in a cool, dark, dry place and, for tapers, in a flat position to prevent changing shape. When stored properly, candles can be enjoyed for years and play an important role in traditions.
Early civilizations relied mostly on the materials that they could find to create candle wax. Ancient Egyptians and the Early Romans depended mostly on tallow that came from animals.
In China, beeswax was used for candles as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), and candle wax made from the Coccos pella insect had been developed by the 12th century. Materials taken from tree nuts were used to make candle wax in early Japan. In India, they boiled the fruit of the cinnamon tree for candle wax. Beeswax was introduced to Europe in the Middle Ages, but not often used in homes because of it was too expensive.
Over hundreds of years, the progress of new waxes for candles has depended upon the ability to find the required materials, the simple and inexpensive ways of processing them into wax candles, and the quality of the wax compared to other available candle waxes.
Tallow was the usual candle wax used in Europe and America until the 18th century, when the whaling industry started using of spermaceti wax, a clean-burning, low-odor wax received from the head oil of the sperm whale.
Spermaceti was the main candle wax until the mid-1800s, when stearin wax and then paraffin wax were made. Stearin wax, which was made from taking stearic acid from animal fatty acids, was commonly used in Europe. Paraffin wax which chemists made after they found a way to remove naturally occurring wax from petroleum during refining, became the typical candle wax in the Western Hemisphere.
During the second half of the 20th century, several man made and chemically blended waxes, including gels, were developed mainly for special types of candle uses. Two candle waxes made from vegetable substances - soy wax and palm wax - were made for the producing and sale of candles during the late 1990s by adding hydrogen to soybean and palm oils.
All waxes are mainly organic compounds that are made of only hydrogen and carbon, whether the wax comes from animals, vegetables, or petroleum. All candles are basically made of the same kinds of waxes. Almost 1 billion pounds of wax are used in the candles sold each year in the United States. The second most common use of wax is for making candles. Packaging and package coatings are the most common use of wax.
There isn’t a best blend of wax that is used for making candles. All good quality candle waxes are clean and safe to burn.
The Egyptians used wicked candles in 3,000 B.C., but the ancient Romans usually get the credit for being the first to make the wicked candle before that time by dipping rolled papyrus over and over into melted tallow or beeswax. They used the candles to light their homes, to aid travelers at night, and for religious ceremonies.
Historians have found proof that many civilizations from long ago developed wicked candles using the wax made from plants and insects. Early Chinese candles are said to have been shaped into paper tubes, using rolled rice paper for the wick, and wax from native insects that were combined with seeds. In Japan, candles were made of wax taken from tree nuts, while in India, candle wax was made by boiling fruit from the cinnamon tree.
It is also known that candles were important in early religious ceremonies. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights which focuses on the lighting of candles, dates back to 165 B.C. There are several Bible terms referring to candles, and the Emperor Constantine was said to have used candles during an Easter service in the 4th century..
Apparently, beeswax was not used in candle making until about 300 A.D. Afterwards, the Roman Catholic Church used candles in their rituals, but they had to contain at least 51 percent beeswax. The remainder may be a vegetable or a mineral wax but not tallow. Finer candles for some kinds of ceremonies are made of 56-2/3 or 100 percent beeswax.
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Research Paper
The History of Candles
Some of the first candles in colonial America were made by picking bayberries and then boiling them to get their wax. However, taking the wax from the bayberries took up a lot of time. Because of this, the making of bayberry candles soon ended. Later in 1850, people started making candles with paraffin wax made from oil and coal shales. Paraffin wax was good because when it burned, it was clean, it didn't have a bad smell and it was at a low cost. Paraffin wax is still the most used wax today and it is used all over the world.
Candles Today
There are other waxes today that are used to make candles. Beeswax is used all around the world but it is used less than paraffin wax. Stearin candle wax is mostly used by people in Europe. Some other ways to make candles use soy wax, palm wax, gels or synthetic waxes.
The way that candles are made can differ. Most of them are made by dipping a cotton wick into wax. The candles are then dipped, molded or shaped, pressed or rolled into a certain shape. Even though candles are not our main source of light today, they are still being used by many people all around the world. Candles are used for celebrations, ceremonies, for decoration, and to look romantic.
Candles should be placed in a cool, dark, dry place and, for tapers, in a flat position to prevent changing shape. When stored properly, candles can be enjoyed for years and play an important role in traditions.
Early civilizations relied mostly on the materials that they could find to create candle wax. Ancient Egyptians and the Early Romans depended mostly on tallow that came from animals.
In China, beeswax was used for candles as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), and candle wax made from the Coccos pella insect had been developed by the 12th century. Materials taken from tree nuts were used to make candle wax in early Japan. In India, they boiled the fruit of the cinnamon tree for candle wax. Beeswax was introduced to Europe in the Middle Ages, but not often used in homes because of it was too expensive.
Over hundreds of years, the progress of new waxes for candles has depended upon the ability to find the required materials, the simple and inexpensive ways of processing them into wax candles, and the quality of the wax compared to other available candle waxes.
Tallow was the usual candle wax used in Europe and America until the 18th century, when the whaling industry started using of spermaceti wax, a clean-burning, low-odor wax received from the head oil of the sperm whale.
Spermaceti was the main candle wax until the mid-1800s, when stearin wax and then paraffin wax were made. Stearin wax, which was made from taking stearic acid from animal fatty acids, was commonly used in Europe. Paraffin wax which chemists made after they found a way to remove naturally occurring wax from petroleum during refining, became the typical candle wax in the Western Hemisphere.
During the second half of the 20th century, several man made and chemically blended waxes, including gels, were developed mainly for special types of candle uses. Two candle waxes made from vegetable substances - soy wax and palm wax - were made for the producing and sale of candles during the late 1990s by adding hydrogen to soybean and palm oils.
All waxes are mainly organic compounds that are made of only hydrogen and carbon, whether the wax comes from animals, vegetables, or petroleum. All candles are basically made of the same kinds of waxes. Almost 1 billion pounds of wax are used in the candles sold each year in the United States. The second most common use of wax is for making candles. Packaging and package coatings are the most common use of wax.
There isn’t a best blend of wax that is used for making candles. All good quality candle waxes are clean and safe to burn.
The Egyptians used wicked candles in 3,000 B.C., but the ancient Romans usually get the credit for being the first to make the wicked candle before that time by dipping rolled papyrus over and over into melted tallow or beeswax. They used the candles to light their homes, to aid travelers at night, and for religious ceremonies.
Historians have found proof that many civilizations from long ago developed wicked candles using the wax made from plants and insects. Early Chinese candles are said to have been shaped into paper tubes, using rolled rice paper for the wick, and wax from native insects that were combined with seeds. In Japan, candles were made of wax taken from tree nuts, while in India, candle wax was made by boiling fruit from the cinnamon tree.
It is also known that candles were important in early religious ceremonies. Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights which focuses on the lighting of candles, dates back to 165 B.C. There are several Bible terms referring to candles, and the Emperor Constantine was said to have used candles during an Easter service in the 4th century..
Apparently, beeswax was not used in candle making until about 300 A.D. Afterwards, the Roman Catholic Church used candles in their rituals, but they had to contain at least 51 percent beeswax. The remainder may be a vegetable or a mineral wax but not tallow. Finer candles for some kinds of ceremonies are made of 56-2/3 or 100 percent beeswax.