The Role Of Wax Emulsion In Water-based Ink

The role of wax emulsion in water-based ink. As an additive for water-based ink, water-based wax emulsion can improve the surface properties of water-based ink after film formation and give the ink better resistance to wear and scratches. At the same time, wax emulsion can also be used as a matting agent, which has a good matting effect.

Various low-molecular, high-melting-point wax powders or wax emulsions are often added to the water-based ink coating formula. The main purpose is to enhance the coating surface to have a full feel, wear resistance and scratch resistance, degassing and texture effects during the thermal transfer process. Because in the water-based ink system, wax molecules can play a bonding effect, and wax molecules can be adsorbed on the ink filler particles, and can be transferred to the top layer of the coating to prevent the coating from becoming sticky and re-sticky, and will not affect the overall leveling of the water-based ink, and solve the problems of pinholes and craters on the surface of the coating.

Dispersibility. After the wax emulsion is emulsified by an emulsifier, the system is relatively stable and has good dispersibility. When added to the ink system, it can be well dispersed in the ink system and has good compatibility. The wax powder itself is an ultrafine particle. The finer the wax powder is, the more it will agglomerate due to the molecular force. If it is not dispersed well in the ink system, the surface of the ink film will be rough, without a smooth feel, and have a grainy feel. However, if the wax powder has good dispersibility, the effect is also very good.

Compatibility. In the preparation of all coating formulas, the overall compatibility will directly affect the performance of the entire product. Therefore, whether it is wax powder or wax emulsion, during use, it is necessary to consider whether other formulas in the formula will react with it, resulting in poor compatibility.

In the water-based ink system, the role of wax emulsion is the same as that of wax powder. Both can well improve the wear resistance, scratch resistance, leveling and degassing of the ink film, but I think the biggest difference is the problem of dispersibility and compatibility.