Originally Posted by
Kontact
Sure, but considering that water boils at ambient (we call it evaporation), I always assumed that wax just melts a little bit being so close to its melting point. But it isn't a glass, just an amorphous solid.
No one calls evaporation “boiling”. “Boiling” has a specific definition which is “
the vapour pressure of the liquid is equal to the pressure exerted on the liquid by the surrounding atmosphere.” Essentially, it is the point where the pressure inside the liquid can push back on the pressure pushing down on the liquid. The boiling point will vary depending on the external pressure. Water boils at 100°C at 1 atmosphere of pressure. It can also boil at ambient temperature if the pressure over it is lowered enough.
Evaporation can occur at lower temperatures and is a surface phenomena.
However, I don't think wax moves fast enough in its solid state to matter for our purposes. My 15 year old bricks of candle wax I use on chains certainly haven't changed shape in their packages.
So I would say that wax at ambient isn't a liquid at all.
I agree. Wax can creep under if it is exposed to higher temperatures than room temperature (70°F). But it is a solid at most temperatures we like to live at.
Last edited by cyccommute; 10-04-23 at 06:18 PM.