Share the application standards of wax powder, wax lotion and wax dispersion in the field of water-based paint and ink

Wax additives used in the production of water-based ink mainly include water-based micro powder wax in solid form, wax lotion in liquid form and wax dispersion. The main advantage of water-based micro powder wax is that it does not contain emulsifiers and has no effect on the water resistance of coatings and inks after film formation. Its main disadvantage is that it has high technical requirements for dispersion in water-based systems and poor application convenience. The advantages of wax lotion and wax dispersion are easy to use, multiple product specifications and wide selection range. The disadvantages are that the matching relationship with the ph value and ionic property of the water-based resin system should be fully considered, and the shelf life of wax lotion and wax dispersion products, as well as the high temperature and low temperature resistance of storage and transportation should be considered.

High polar wax additives include oxidized polyethylene wax lotion, and oxidized polypropylene wax lotion can also improve the adhesion of non-polar materials in specific systems. Some more special wax lotion can also play the role of aluminum powder orienting agent, carbon black dispersant, and water-based baking varnish leveling agent in the water-based system.

Unlike organic silicon additives, wax particles exist in a solid state in dry films, while organic silicon additives generally migrate on the surface of dry films in a liquid state. In a water-based self drying system, the existence state of wax particles is similar to that of pigment fillers, except for some degree of surface migration depending on resin compatibility and drying conditions. In the baking system, depending on the resin compatibility and baking conditions, wax melts and migrates to the surface, forming small particles or continuous wax film after cooling.

The glossiness and transparency of wax in water-based coatings and inks are influenced by many factors, among which the most important are the difference in refractive index between wax materials and resins, as well as the fineness of wax. In clear varnish or varnish with thinner coating thickness, the same type of wax has the lowest gloss and the worst transparency when the fineness is around 1um under the same dosage conditions.

When wax lotion are used in water-based systems, the influence of cosolvent on the stability of wax lotion should be considered, especially when methanol and ethanol are used as cosolvent. When wax lotion are selected, products with good alcohol resistance should be selected. When wax dispersions are used in water-based systems, the interaction between defoamers and wax dispersions should be studied.

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