Thesis Abstract

This project is aimed at producing black and brown polish of good quality. For clearity, polish is a substance rubbed on the surface of materials to make them smooth and shiny. Polish has being of immense importance in protecting leather surfaces and enhancing their beauty.

To produce a standard polish, hard waxes such as carnduba wax, candelhla wax and palm wax; semi-hard waxes which include, paraffin wax and ozokerite; solvents like tupentine and naphtha; dyes and dryers are essential. In this research project, paraffin wax, turpentine; paraffin oil,. Cobalt and lead dryers, vanish, black and brown pigments were used to obtain the desired result.

The apparatus was set up as can be seen in fig1. Using the measured quantities of the ingredients, the production started with heating to about 90oc to melt the wax and cooling to about 600c. This was preceded by the addition of the solvent, the colorant, dryer and vanish. As this was being done, there was continuous agitation. After obtaining a homogenous mixture, the product was filled into 50ml cans and allowed to cool. The best formulation was obtained from 45.2%, 24%, 21%, 2%, 2%, 2% of turpentine, paraffin wax, paraffin oil, drier, vanish and colorant respectively. The major problem encountered were that of coverage and gloss or surface shine produced by the trial formulations. They were blamed on the particle size of the pigments and the absence of some other ingredients like hard waxes to blend the paraffin wax; and naphtha which could not be found dispite all effort made. Happily, these were reasonably improved by using finer pigments particles and vanish respectively.

From tests and evaluations, the research project was a success with a good produce formulation; importantly, a production. And packaging cost (for the formulation) on fourty one naira, thirty three kobo (N41.30) per 50ml polish content was carried out with the sum of six thousand eight hundred and forty naira (N6,840.00)

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

The emergence of polish technology in engineering is apparent offshoot of complexities resulting from the induction of substances that produce desired gloss and provides a protective coating for the surface of the materials, changing it to a dry adherent film. Therefore, polish is a substances usually wax based, which when applied to a sequence was based, which applied to sequence protects, makes it smooth and shiny.

It has been discovered that shoe polish industries in Nigeria are at minimum even though the polish industry is economically very important due to its widespread usage. Shoe polish industry as a surface coaling provider in a very important venture. The manufacture of surface coaling materials of which shoes polish is a part, has been estimated with swales of more than 10,000 million yearly. This in essence means that its usage is wide spread and in teams of employment, gives a lot of opportunities. The economic consequences as highlighted above have4 in turn spu7rred many into a continuous struggle for a good quality product.

Therefore, in a bid to reduce the degree of unemployment by establishing small scale industries, this research project is embark upon.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

The aim and objective of this project among other things include;

1                    To produce shoe polish which will suit the weather of this country.

2                    Produce polish of high quality at minimum cost5

3                    To conserve foreign exchange and help solve the problem of balance of payment resulting from, the importation of polishes to offset the unnecessary.

4                    To help complement the efforts of existing factories toward meeting the rising demand of product.

5                    To create employment opportunities by establishing polish industry.

6                    To reduce the depending on government for emplyment by having individual investment and becoming self reliant

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Considering the fact that there are few or practically no functional polish industry in the country, and the imported polish most atimes do not meet up with the local weather conditions, this research project will help to find solution to these problems. And at the same time offer local alternatives to these imported products. It will equally be an avenue for finding means of increasing our domestic national product.

Importantly, exploiting the benefit offered by this research work will help in improving the qualities of polishes produced. This will help in making the polish industry a viable venture, whose product could be exported thereby serving as a foreign exchange earner for the country.

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The research project covers feasibility study, scouting and acquisition of the necessary raw materials required for the production, formulations research and the production of the polish samples. Other areas are, analytical test of product qualities as compared with some commercial brands, evaluation of the project, discussion, conclusion and recommendations.