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ISU researchers have developed a synthetic process to convert soybean oil into a paraffin wax substitute.

Corrugated cardboard coated in wax is a typical container for shipping many products.  The wax coating offers water repellence and some chemical resistance that cardboard boxes alone don’t offer. The wax for these boxes are typically petroleum derived and not able to be repulped and recycled and are slow to degrade, causing a significant source of waste. With the price and limited resource of crude oil and growing concern about its impact on the environment, a biorenewable cost-effective, high performing wax is desirable. To meet this market need, ISU researchers have developed a new material derived from soybean oil with properties similar to paraffin wax.

• Obtained from natural and renewable sources

• Comparable melting point, hydrophobicity, and hardness to paraffin wax

• Offer a new market channel for the utilization of soybean oil

Coating in the paper and packaging area