[Dave KG]

Originally Posted by P1et

Can I ask then what gives wax it's insane beading?

Physically speaking (alas, I'm no chemist but a physicist instead):

Beading is a result of surface tension - the slick/slippy/call it what you will surface of the paint caused the water to bead. You dont need an LSP for this, perfectly clean unprotected paint will bead water quite happily.

So, waxes must present the water with a different "slippiness" to form the tighter beads than sealents, which typically see larger beads and more tendancy for water to roll off the car (which is preferrable to me, rather than lots of beads sitting on the car for ages and then drying to water spots...)

Over to a chemist for the chemical make-up explanation....

	LSP Last Step Product, meaning protection either wax or sealant.

[Dom]

Beading is just a factor of the hydrophobia a surface demonstrates, and its result on surface tension of a water molecule that has landed on it.

A totally smooth and clean surface allows a water droplet to form into as much of a globe as it can, whereas an uneven or dirty surface will break the surface tension of the water and allow the droplet to spread out.

This is why a highly polished and clean surface offers good beading.

And why a highly waxed surface (the wax creates a smooth layer on top of the paint) offers good beading.

People can be confused with beading effects as dirt on a waxes surface can destroy beading effects, despite protection being present beneath the dirt. And also, a highly polished unprotected surface can also bead nicely, as mentioned above.

Furthermore, sealants can have hydrophilic characteristics, where the surface 'loves' water (rather than repels it!) so much it destroys all the surface tension and spreads the water droplet accross the surface. This creates 'sheeting' more than beading. A surface like this can still offer protection - despite beading being non-existent.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by togwt

Percentage of wax content- most carnaubas advertised with 50% or more Carnauba wax content is truly advertising a weight, not a volume. 30% by volume is about 50% by weight is about the maximum content (approx 35% Carnauba by volume makes it almost impossible to add/remove) that’s why you never can truly assess the amount of Carnauba in a manufactured wax unless the manufacturer specifically lists its content percentage by weight or volume. When making a comparison ensure you compare like with like i.e. % volume or % weight

Rubbish Boy's comments are spot on

Maybe I misread this, but surely you mean that carnaubas advertising more than 50% content are advertising a dry volume rather than dry weight or wet volume? Dry weight/wet volume is about half the dry volume measurement, so 30% by wet volume is about 30% by dry weight which is about 60% by dry volume. You seem to have this the other way around.

Dry volume is a strange way to measure carnauba content within a product, scientifically speaking. Wet volume of melted flakes or dry weight of flakes (where air between flakes is not taken into account) is more accurate.

Of course, some carnauba percentages refer to the percentage of carnauba as a proportion of wax content only, i.e. 70% carnauba, 30% beeswax. This seems to be the case with R222 100% wax.

I did an experiment regarding this here:

Mysteries of the Carnauba Trade Part 1 - Fun With Volume - Detailing World

[trhland]

is there anyway we can call one of these high end wax companys. and ask then how they measure these high carnuaba percentages? would they even tell us?

[Dom]

Ask them to make a statement in writing what the concentration of carnauba wax is in the product, ie what percentage of the overall product is carnauba wax itself. Also ask how they measure the result.

If they put this in writing they have nothing to hide as it could be put to independent scrutiny and verification.

[trhland]

Originally Posted by Dodo Factory

Ask them to make a statement in writing what the concentration of carnauba wax is in the product, ie what percentage of the overall product is carnauba wax itself. Also ask how they measure the result.

If they put this in writing they have nothing to hide as it could be put to independent scrutiny and verification.

im sure they would say there formula is confidential.

[trhland]

it would be also hard to know who to ask ? if you call custemer service. there likley not going to know.

[Dom]

Originally Posted by trhland

im sure they would say there formula is confidential.

Why should they? A figure is often written on websites and on sales literature? All you're after is written confirmation of what that figure actually means. Knowing the carnauba content does not tell you how to make a wax or revealing of the formula - it is like trying to make a brownie simply knowing it contains 36% chocolate.

Write to their customer care email address or contact address. They should be qualified to answer the question or find someone who can.

Look at the intelligent response from R222 regarding the 100% wax. Surely you could expect that from other mature and established wax manufacturers making percentage claims?

[littlemissGTO]

This is what 70% carnauba by volume looks like. There's no way you can use this content to wax your car.

[trhland]

Originally Posted by littlemissGTO

This is what 70% carnauba by volume looks like. There's no way you can use this content to wax your car.