Comparative Rheological and Physicochemical Characterization of Beeswax: Capping, Old Comb, and Foundation Wax

Beeswax is a beekeeping product used in comb foundation manufacturing and in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food applications. Data on their physicochemical and rheological behavior remain scarce. We compared capping wax (CW), old comb wax (OW), and foundation wax (FW) from Apis mellifera. FTIR spectra were similar and melting points did not differ significantly (65–66 °C). Color was the most sensitive solid-state property, differing among all samples. At 80 °C, density (821–822 kg·m−3) and surface tension (39–41 mN·m−1) were similar. Under concentric-cylinder geometry, flow curves followed the Power Law model, with n = 1.121–1.153, indicating slight shear-thickening behavior; all individual replicate fits returned n > 1, with no statistical differences among wax types. Viscosity remained constant for 30 min at 400 s−1, indicating no thixotropy or rheopexy. A stirrer-type relative geometry returned higher apparent indices (1.734–1.899) and viscosities (45–50 mPa·s); being non-viscometric, these are process descriptors rather than intrinsic constants. Oscillatory rheology near the solid–liquid transition was more discriminating: unlike CW and OW, FW showed no elastic-to-viscous crossover in any replicate within the analyzed strain range. The distinct response of FW may reflect differences in microstructural organization rather than chemical composition, a hypothesis that remains to be confirmed and is potentially relevant to stamping, rolling, and molding.