Uses Of Polyethylene Wax(PE Wax) Emulsion In Coatings

Uses of Polyethylene Wax Emulsion in CoatingsUses of Polyethylene Wax Emulsion in Coatings. The role of Polyethylene Wax Emulsion in coatings is very extensive. Polyethylene Wax Emulsion in coatings can improve wear resistance, anti-caking, and matte properties, and improve flow and extrusion efficiency.

(1) Slipperiness, wear resistance, and scratch resistance. After adding polyethylene wax emulsion to water-based ink, the wax emulsion drifts to the surface of the coating during the film formation process, evenly disperses, and forms a wax protective layer on the coating, reducing the friction coefficient; therefore, the coating has excellent wear resistance and slipperiness, and at the same time changes the direction of the coating’s force, improving the coating’s scratch resistance.

(2) The effect of emulsion particle size on the gloss of the coating. The wavelength of visible light is 400-700nm. When the particle size of the polyethylene wax emulsion is less than 1/2 of the wavelength of visible light, that is, ≤200nm, light diffraction will occur, thereby improving the gloss of the coating. It is generally believed that the greater the change in the particle size of the wax emulsion, the more obvious its gloss effect; in addition, the gloss of the coating is also related to the crystallinity of the wax. The particle size of the wax emulsion has reached the nanometer level and is the best surface protector for high-gloss ink systems.

(3) Texture and matte: When the coating cools, the polyethylene wax emulsion precipitates from the coating liquid and migrates to the surface of the coating, producing a pattern and matte effect.

(4) Effect on pigment dispersion: The polyethylene wax emulsion enhances the wetting and dispersion of pigment agglomerates, thereby improving the coloring intensity of the pigment.
(5) Waterproofness: Wax-containing coatings have better hydrophobicity.

In water-based coating systems, water-based waxes as additives mainly include solid water-based micro-powder waxes and liquid wax emulsions and water-based wax dispersions. Tianshi water-based coatings commonly use oxidized polyethylene emulsions with a melting range of 90-145°C, light yellow and translucent, odorless, and excellent strength and toughness. Polyethylene wax emulsions are widely used in food packaging containers, textiles, resin finishing agents, softeners, printing inks, water-based coatings, printing pastes, water-based varnishes and other industries.