Application of polyethylene wax powder in paints and inks (1)

Wax is used earlier as a matting agent for paints. Its characteristics are simple to use. After the paint is applied, the solvent waxes out and the wax in the paint precipitates, forming fine crystals, floating on the surface of the paint film, and forming a layer of scattered light rough surface to play the role of extinction. In addition to high-molecular mineral waxes, natural waxes are rarely used in paints and replaced by high-molecular waxes and their modified derivatives. They not only extinction effect is good, but also can give the paint film good water resistance, heat and moisture resistance, slip injury, anti-fouling, and have a good feel, their scratch resistance is not reach the pigment extinction.

As a matting agent, the polymer wax is used in an amount of 0.5-3%. It is suitable for acrylic paints, alkyd paints, nitrocellulose paints and polyurethane paints, industrial baking paints, vinyl paints, and latex paints. The combination of high-molecular wax and fumed silica can improve the performance of the paint film, and its matting effect, water resistance, chemical resistance, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, and interlayer adhesion are all significantly improved.

Polyethylene waxes are low molecular weight polyethylene homopolymers or copolymers widely used in coatings. The so-called wax refers to the fact that the final microcrystalline form of the polymer is distributed on the surface of the coating and acts like a wax and is more versatile.

The main role of polyethylene wax in solvent-based coatings is: extinction, anti-settling, thixotropy, good lubrication and processability, and metal positioning.

The addition of polyethylene wax powder to the coating should avoid high temperatures because the polyethylene wax dissolves in the solvent at high temperatures and precipitates on cooling to form larger particles.

The role of polyethylene wax depends on the following factors: the specification of the polyethylene wax, the fineness of the final formed particles, the ability to migrate to the surface of the coating, the composition of the coating, the nature of the substrate being coated, and the method of construction application. Polyethylene wax is used as an additive, in addition to solvent-based coatings and inks, as well as water-based coatings and inks.