Why do wicks burn

With the imagination and creativity of the candle industry, new challenges are constantly being presented. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. Common Burn Issues.

December 8, pm. Problem 1: The Burn Pool The burn pool serves two main functions for a candle. Problem 2: Flame Height Flame height is another determining factor in judging the overall burn of the candle and it is also ultimately determined by the wick choice. Problem 3: Mushroom Capping Mushrooming occurs when there is an overabundance of wax fuel to be combusted, creating a build up of partially reduced molecules which are unable to reach the flame, combining with oxygen and completing the burning process.

Problem 4: Afterglow Afterglow occurs when an individual manually extinguishes the flame but the charcoaled mass at the end of the wick continues to throw off soot. This condition most often occurs as a direct result of mushroom capping during the burn. Once enough wax has melted, blow out the flame and leave the wax to cool around the newly exposed wick. Source: Mic. Melt the wax around the wick using a heat gun or candle lighter. Once the wax is thoroughly melted, use tweezers to carefully lift the wick up out of the wax.

Be careful not to break the wick as it might be fragile. Let the wax harden around the wick. When you first light the candle, it can take a few minutes for the combustion reaction to stabilize. This is why a candle flame sometimes flickers a lot when you first light it. As long as the wick is trimmed properly, the flame should stabilize after a few minutes and burn steadily in a nice teardrop shape.

The bluish color at the base of the flame is where the hydrocarbon molecules vaporize and start to break apart into hydrogen and carbon atoms. Some of the carbon atoms in this zone may also begin to burn to form carbon dioxide. The middle part of the flame will be a dark orange-brown due to the relative absence of oxygen.

In this area, carbon continues to break down. It also begins to form tiny hardened particles that are heated to approximately degrees Centigrade as they rise up through the flame. They are preferred for beeswax applications and can help inhibit clogging of the wick, which can occur with certain types of wax formulations, pigments or fragrances.

Cored Wicks. These braided or knitted wicks use a core material to keep the wick straight or upright while burning. The wicks have a round cross section, and the use of different core materials provides a range of stiffness effects. The most common core materials for wicks are cotton, paper, zinc or tin. Cored wicks can be found in jar candles, pillars, votives and devotional lights. Wooden Wicks. Wooden wicks have become popular in recent years for the visual aesthetic they create and the soft crackling sound they create.