how do they collect carnuba

[sleepy]

Please correct me of I am wrong. Carnuba is a natural wax that grows on a tree in Brazil. IF this is so, how do they collect the oils that makeup what we use on our cars?

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: how do they collect carnuba

Here you go!

A Brazilian tree formally named Copernicia prunifera and otherwise known as the fan or carnauba palm is the source for carnauba wax. The palm has broad fan like leaves attached to toothed stalks. In hot, dry weather, the plant secretes wax to protect the leaves from damage. People who want to collect the wax dry the leaves and then beat them to dislodge the yellowish to brown waxy coating, which usually flakes off. The wax is refined and bleached before it is used. Carnauba palms can live in extreme environments because of their protective wax coating, making them an excellent choice of crop for farmers working with poor soil and weather conditions.

A temperature of 172 degrees Fahrenheit (78 degrees Celsius) is required to melt carnauba wax. It is also not readily soluble. Water cannot break down a layer of carnauba wax, and only certain solvents can, usually in combination with heat. This means that carnauba wax is highly durable. Used plain, it can make something waterproof and wear resistant. Combined with things such as tints and dyes, carnauba wax can be used to create an enduring colored polish. Eventually, hard wear will strip carnauba wax from most surfaces, but a fresh layer can be reapplied. In older homes with hardwood floors and fixtures, carnauba wax was probably used as a conditioner at some point.

The substance is often used instead of or in combination with other waxes because of how strong it is. Many surfers, for example, use waxes for their boards which integrate carnauba. It is also used to coat paper plates, dental floss, and as a vegetarian alternative to gelatin. In the pharmaceutical industry, carnauba wax frequently appears as a tablet coating, and it appears in a number of packaged foods. Unlike many other waxes, a carnauba wax finish will not flake off with time, it will merely become dull. This makes it ideal for locations in which a flaking finish would look unsightly.

[tcope1]

Re: how do they collect carnuba

Ompa Lumpa's collect it one leaf at a time while they all sing the Umpa Lumpa song in harmony.

At least that is the way I see it in my mind.

[BobbyG]

Re: how do they collect carnuba

With little tinny putty knives....

Actually, I have no idea but looking at the price of Carnauba wax it can't be all that difficult or laborius.

Griot's offers a hard stick wax that's pretty close to being mostly Carnauba and 3.5 oz of the stuff sells for about $12 to $15 dollars.

[sleepy]

Re: how do they collect carnuba

Wow Stang Crazy, thanks for the info.. I was surprised at it's uses. I was also thinking that they might damage the trees in the process, which in My opinion would not be cool. But it does not appear that they do. Thanks for the reply!

[TH0001]

Re: how do they collect carnuba

They usually beat it off the fawns of the Carnauba Palm, with big wooden sticks. It is rock hard and kind of cracks/breaks off, IIRC. As far as the oils, they are mixed in later when the wax is cooked, and they come from a lot of places. If you where to read some marketing you would think your waxes contain enough fruit juice to make a breakfast smoothie, but usually it is amino functional silicones that are blended into the wax, similar to those used in a sealant.

[sleepy]

Re: how do they collect carnuba

They usually beat it off the fawns of the Carnauba Palm, with big wooden sticks. It is rock hard and kind of cracks/breaks off, IIRC. As far as the oils, they are mixed in later when the wax is cooked, and they come from a lot of places. If you where to read some marketing you would think your waxes contain enough fruit juice to make a breakfast smoothie, but usually it is amino functional silicones that are blended into the wax, similar to those used in a sealant.

It sounds like if it were not for the silicones, Meguiars could almost put out their own breakfast line!