How does paraffin wax quality vary by refining grade and what are the main applications?

How does paraffin wax quality vary by refining grade and what are the main applications?
Paraffin wax is classified by refining degree into fully refined, semi-refined and crude grades, each serving distinct end uses. Fully refined wax, produced via hydrotreating technology that China adopted in the late 1970s, meets food-grade standards and is used for food packaging, fruit coating, candle making and crayons. Semi-refined wax is widely applied in candle production, paper coating and industrial release agents. Crude wax, with higher oil content, goes into fiberboard and canvas manufacturing. The refining process is critical: hydrofinishing replaces traditional clay treatment, offering better product quality, higher yields and lower costs without solid waste. In candle applications, paraffin's high melting point and hardness make it ideal for molded candles, while soy wax is preferred for container candles due to lower cost and cleaner burn. For histology, paraffin with melting points between 52-58°C is selected based on ambient temperature and section thickness, with lower melting grades for winter and higher grades for summer.