Phase Behavior of a Binary Mixture of Beeswax and Carnauba Wax and Its Effectiveness as Gelator

ABSTRACT

The phase behavior of binary mixtures of beeswax (BW) and carnauba wax (CRW) was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and their effectiveness as gelators for high‐oleic sunflower oil (HOSFO) was evaluated. Different BW/CRW combinations were crystallized in the DSC, and their melting thermograms and main thermal parameters were obtained. These results were used to construct a pseudo‐phase equilibrium diagram. Additionally, solid content curves, an isosolid diagram, and the variation of melting enthalpies as a function of CRW percentage in the mixture were determined. Results suggested that both waxes exhibited behavior close to that of a full‐compatibility mixture over the entire composition range, with phase behavior consistent with a monotectic phase diagram. Based on the critical gelation concentration ( C *), all BW/CRW mixtures exhibited gelation efficiencies comparable to that of pure BW (2.0 wt%) and superior to that of pure CRW (3.0 wt%). However, the BW/CRW 90/10 blend emerged as the most effective oleogelator, exhibiting a C * of 1.0 wt%, which was lower than that of all other wax combinations as well as both pure waxes.