The Application Of Wax In Ink

The application of wax in ink
Wax is a common auxiliary agent for ink. Wax is used in ink to improve the water resistance and printing performance of ink, mainly to change the rheology of ink. All kinds of inks can use wax materials to adjust the viscosity, so that the ink is loose and the ink is short; it can increase the fixing ability, make the dots of the printed product complete, and reduce dirt and agglomeration. The fine wax particles can be directly transferred into the ink, and the coarser wax particles must be processed into additives and then transferred into the ink.

The abrasion resistance of a wax is mainly determined by its particle size and hardness (melting point). The size of the wax particles should be small enough to meet the requirements of no adverse effects during production and no problems during printing, and can float on the ink film after being printed on the substrate to increase friction resistance. Because this can make the printed matter rub and heat under the action of pressure, the wax particles on the ink film layer will roll and improve its rubbing resistance.

Excessive amount of wax will have some side effects, such as affecting ink fluidity, transfer, gloss and so on.

Types and varieties of waxes in inks
The components of the wax include mixtures of higher saturated fatty acids or higher alcohols and their esterification products. Waxes are generally classified by source:

Insect wax and beeswax are often used in ink binders, which can improve the printability of inks and overcome vitrification.

Canobar wax can be mixed with various waxes, soluble in mineral oil, has good wettability to pigments, and fast fixing. When used in ink, it will make the ink have good smoothness without loss of luster. It is widely used in bright ink and overcoat varnish.

Paraffin is a colorless or white substance with a crystalline structure; microcrystalline paraffin is a purified product of paraffin, and its crystal form is smaller than that of paraffin. It has good blendability with oils and solvents and is often used in various inks.

Polyethylene wax and polytetrafluoroethylene wax are also widely used in various inks, which can effectively prevent smudging. If the polar gene is introduced into the molecule of polyethylene wax, it can also be used for water-based ink.