Petroleum Products: Crayons

Almost every child has at some point had a box of crayons, and indeed the availability of colors and brands has expanded over the years.  At roughly $1 for a box of primary colors, the round, colored sticks are cheap and versatile, used in a variety of ways for various art projects. 

Crayons are made from a mixture of paraffin wax, dyes and a cocktail of chemical compounds used to harden the wax and to keep it together with the dyes. Paraffin, made from refined petroleum, is the main ingredient in crayons, and is available in different qualities. As are made primarily of wax and pigments, the amount and quality of wax and the ratio thereof to the pigment will affect how a crayon draws.

Here's a How It's Made video on crayons.

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