The Incipient Layer of Wax Deposit

The formation of the incipient layer of wax deposit when waxy oil is exposed to a cold surface is studied. Using a cold-finger apparatus, the evolution of deposit thickness is monitored with a video camera, allowing one to resolve the deposit layer formation from inception up to long times where deposit thickness no longer times where deposit thickness no longer grows. Characterization of wax deposits show that incipient layer has identical composition to waxy oil, indicating that deposit is not formed by a diffusion process. Modelling shows deposit formation at the investigated conditions cannot be explained by a diffusion process.