The mechanical properties of beeswax, measured as a function of temperature, using a variety of techniques, are identified and compared. The coefficient of friction of beeswax is measured and compared with that of plasticine and Nylon 6–6. It is shown that the frictional behaviour of beeswax departs from Amonton's laws and behaves instead as a classic soft, elastic polymer. Free surface energy measurements of beeswax are also reported.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FARADAYM.: ‘A candle—The flame: its sources, structure, mobility, brightness’, Royal Institution lecture, London, 1860.
2.
BULLR.: Nom wachs: Hoechster Beitra zur Kenntnis der Wachse’,Vol. 1; 1977, Frankfurt, Hoechst AG.
3.
COGGSHALLW. and MORSER.: ‘Beeswax: production, harvesting, processing, and products’, 1984, Ithaca, NY, Wicwas Press.
4.
CRANEE.: ‘Bees and beekeeping: science, practice, and world resources’; 1990, Ithaca, NY, Comstock Publishers.
5.
HEPBURNH.: ‘Honeybees and wax: an experimental natural history’; 1986. Berlin, Springer-Verlag.
6.
TULLOCHA.: ‘The composition of beeswax and other waxes secreted by insects’Lipids, 1970, 5, (2), 247–258.
‘Testing methods for solid friction’, in ‘ASM handbook’, Vol. 18, ‘Friction lubrication and wear technology’, 46; 1992, Materials Park, OH, ASM International.
9.
ARCHARDJ.: Proc. R. Soc. (London) A, 1957, A234, 191 — 205.
10.
BOWDENF. and TABORD.: ‘Friction—an introduction to tribology’; 1973, New York, Anchor Press.
11.
TIMOSHENKOS.: ‘Strength of materials’, Part 2, 454; 1958, Van No strand.
12.
McCRUMN., BUCKLEYC., and BUCKNALLC.: ‘Principles of polymer engineering’, 1988, Oxford, Oxford Science Publica-tions.
13.
MORRISONJ., CROSSLANDB., and PARRYJ.: PrOC. Inst. Mech. Eng., 1959, 174, (2).
14.
THOMASR. and ADAMSR.: ‘Test methods for determining shear property data for adhesives suitable for design’, MTS Adhesives Report, part B, MTS, Teddington, UK, 1996.
15.
KAUSCHH.: ‘Deformation and fracture of high polymers’, 417; 1972, New York, Plenum.
