Glazing agent

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A glazing agent is a natural or synthetic substance that provides a waxy, homogeneous, coating to prevent water loss and provide other surface protection for the substance.[1]

Differences between Natural and Synthetic Glazing Agents

Natural

Natural glazing agents have been found present, most often in plants or insects. In nature, the agents are used to keep the moisture in the specimen, but science has harnessed this characteristic by turning it into a glazing agent that acts as a coating. This glazing agent is made up of a substance that is classified as a wax. A natural wax is chemically defined as an ester with a very long hydrocarbon chain that also includes a long chain alcohol. However, in a wax there have been many different chemical structures that can be included in a definition of a wax, such as: wax esters, sterol esters, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and sterols.[2]

Examples are:

Synthetic

Science has produced similar glazing agents that mimic their natural counterparts. These components are added in different proportions to achieve the most optimal glazing agent for a product.[3] These products range from things in the cosmetic, automobile and food industry.[4][5][6]

  • Some of the characteristics that are looked for in all of the above industries are:
    • 1. Preservation- It refers to the glazing agent to be able to protect the product from degrading and water loss. The characteristic can lead to a longer shelf life for a food or the longevity of a car without rusting.[7]
    • 2. Stability- It is important for the glazing agent itself to maintain its integrity if under any pressure or heat.[8]
    • 3. Uniform viscosity- This ensures for a stronger protective coating because it can be applied to the product as a homogeneous layer.
    • 4. Industrial reproduction- This is important because most glazing agents are used on commercial goods and therefore large quantities of glazing agent may be needed.

There are different variations of glazing agents, depending on the product, but they are all designed for the same purpose.

References

  1. ↑ Shinohara et al, Seigo. "Water-repellent glazing agent". United States Patent. Retrieved March 21, 2012. 
  2. ↑ Fennema (2007). Fennema’s Food Chemistry. CRC Press. p. 1144. 
  3. ↑ Brockus, J. "Glazing Agent". European Patent Office. Retrieved March 21, 2012. 
  4. ↑ Brockus, J. "Glazing Agent". European Patent Office. Retrieved March 21, 2012. 
  5. ↑ Shiojima, Y. "Fine dispersion composition of wax, hair cosmetic preparation and glazing agent". Shiseido Company Limited. Retrieved March 21, 2012. 
  6. ↑ Shinohara, S. "Glazing agent for an automobile". U.S. Patent office. Retrieved March 21, 2012. 
  7. ↑ Brockus, J. "Glazing Agent". European Patent Office. Retrieved March 21, 2012. 
  8. ↑ Brockus, J. "Glazing Agent". European Patent Office. Retrieved March 21, 2012. 

See also

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.