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They are waxes for detergents and cleaners and industrial formulators.
Luwax A is a low density ethylene homopolymer wax.
Luwax A is used in all types of waxed paper, for food packaging like frozen food packaging, and in hot-melt adhesives.
Luwax A is used as a lubricant.
Luwax A improves the gloss, smoothness and water repellancy of surfaces, as well as making the plastic easier to process.
Prevents the melt from adhering to the hot metal surfaces of processing machinery and decomposing.
Improves scratch resistance without impairing the mechanical and thermal properties.
Offers good resistance to ageing and UV light, dispersibility, good lubricating and separating effect.
Luwax A is used for polymers like rigid and flexible PVC, PS, EVA copolymers, natural rubber, thermoplastics, PP, PE.
Luwax are used to manufacture a variety of wax emulsions for cleaning and care applications, such as polishes for floor, shoes, leather, furniture, and automobiles.
Luwax helps to protect surfaces against mechanical wear, improve surface appearance, and control slip properties when formulated in pastes,creams, or aqueous emulsions.
Solubility of Luwax A:
Luwax A is insoluble in water at room temperature and is insoluble or only very sparingly soluble in all the usual organic solvents.
Luwax A is soluble at elevated temperatures in aliphatic, aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons and most other solvents that are not too polar.
The following table shows the temperature at which Luwax A forms a clear 10 % solution in selected solvents.
There is also a “cloud point” at which the wax begins to recrystallize on cooling.
Solvent - Clear point (ºC) - Cloud point (ºC)
White mineral spirits: 77 - 72
Xylene: 72 - 64
Toluene: 68 - 65
Turpentine oil: 73 - 67
Spindle oil: 84 - 78
Perchloroethylene: 67 - 61
Shellsol A: 72 - 66
Butyl acetate: 110 - 105
These 10 % solutions cool to form pastes with varying degrees of firmness.
Miscibility of Luwax A:
Luwax A can be blended with many other types of waxes, resins and polymers simply by melting and stirring them together.
The compatibility of Luwax A with the substances listed below was determined by melting them and mixing them together in the ratios 9:1 and 1:9.
With only one exception, a homogeneous mixture was formed in solid and liquid form in all cases.
Applications of Luwax A:
Properties - Applications/possible uses:
Hardness, toughness:
Polishes with hard-wearing films
Rub-resistant printing inks
Good solvent binding:
Firm, fine, fatty and thermally stable pastes for solvent-based polishes
Thickener for mineral oils and Vaseline
Good buffability:
Polishes which form high-gloss films, e. g. floor polish, shoe polish, car polish
Forms finely divided pastes:
Printing inks
Shoe polishes
Corrosion-resistant wax coatings, impregnating agents and mould-release agents
Good lubricating and separating effect:
Processing aid for natural and synthetic rubber
External lubricant for PVC processing
Mould-release agent
Dispersibility:
Pigment masterbatches for colouring polymers
Wax crayons and mechanical self-copying paper
Compatibility:
Wax coatings, laminating adhesives and hot-melt adhesives
High strength:
Candles
Electrical insulating effect:
Filling and insulating compounds for electrical components and circuits
Hydrophobic:
Temporary anti-corrosion coatings for motor vehicles and machine parts
Leather polishes and car polishes
Impregnating agent and water repellent for the front of buildings, prefabricated joinery etc.
PVC processing
Coating of granular fertilizers
Good resistance to ageing and UV-light:
Latex, rubber
Printing inks:
Luwax A improve the printing properties of offset printing inks.
They improve the rub resistance and scratch resistance and have an effect on the surface smoothness of the finished prints.
For use in offset printing inks, 20 – 30 % Luwax A are dissolved in mineral oil at 110 – 130 ºC by stirring.
Upon cooling, fine crystalline pastes are formed.
The wax can also be dissolved and dispersed in a similar way in varnishes containing no mineral oil.
Masterbatches Luwax A are used as dispersants in the manufacture of masterbatches for colouring polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC and polystyrene.
The strong pigment dispersion effect, the good mixing properties and the relatively low melt viscosity guarantee quick and homogeneous distribution of the pigments in these polymers without damaging there mechanical properties.
PVC As a hydrocarbon wax, Luwax A is only slightly soluble in PVC and therefore acts as an external lubricant for plasticised and unplasticised PVC.
Luwax A prevents the PVC melt from sticking and burning on to the hot metal surfaces of the processing machinery.
The production cycle becomes more even and the surface properties of the PVC products, such as their gloss, smoothness and water repellency, are improved.
The amount added is usually between 0.1 and 0.6 phr (parts per hundred resin).
Luwax A is frequently combined with external/internal lubricants (e. g. montanic ester waxes such as Luwax E or Luwax OP) or with internal lubricants.
Luwax A is also being used increasingly in the extrusion of pipes and profiles because Luwax A produces a more even, smoother and glossier surface than paraffins and microwaxes.
Luwax A increases, especially, the non-stick effect and water repellency.
Luwax A is also used as an external lubricant in stabiliser-lubricant compounds for extrusion.
Polyurethane foams:
Dispersions of Luwax A, with or without other waxes, in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons are very good mould release agents for the manfacture of polyurethane foams.
Other plastics:
With regard to thermoplastics and thermoset moulding compounds, the addition of 0.5 – 2 % Luwax A increases the output and mould release effect in the injection moulding process.
In impact-modified polystyrene, 0.5 – 3 phr Luwax A improve scratch resistance without impairing the mechanical and thermal properties.
Rubber:
Luwax A acts as an auxiliary in the production of natural rubber and synthetic elastomers.
Prevents inherent tack (especially in the case of chlorinated elastomers),
Improves the rheological properties of rubber compounds during injection moulding and calendering,
Make the surface of the rubber smoother and more water-repellent, Reduces the shrinkage of rubber mixes and of vulcanised products, Reduces the frosting effect (chalking of highly filled compounds) and Increases the ozone protection effect, as an antioxidant.
Depending on the intended application, up to 6 phr may be used without changing the properties of vulcanizates.
Luwax A is added right at the start of the mixing process because this helps to disperse fillers and pigments.
Polishes:
Luwax A form smooth fine crystalline pastes with good oiling properties, which retain their consistency at high temperatures.
The exudation of solvents is reduced to a minimum.
These properties can, for example, be transferred to upgrade the properties of paraffin wax.
Luwax A are thus an important balancing component for the manufacture of pastes and creams for floor polish, shoe polish,
car wax, furniture wax and ski wax, which usually contain paraffin wax, microcrystalline waxes and montanic ester waxes dissolved in mineral spirits.
To manufacture the wax pastes, the components are blended together at 119 – 130 ºC.
The pre-heated solvent is then added; at this stage, a clear solution must be produced.
The mixture is cooled down, with simultaneous stirring, until clouding clearly starts to occur (pouring temperature) and is poured out into tins or plastic tubes.
Better-compounded pastes are obtained if the warm solvent is added in such a way that a cloudy dispersion is produced which is then heated up until there is a small amount of residual cloudiness and then cooled down again to the pouring temperature.
Very finely divided liquid wax dispersions can also be produced with
Luwax A, by lowering the wax concentrations or in the presence of substances which have a liquefying effect on wax gels, such as Luwax V Flakes or magnesium stearate.
Upon drying, they form very dense, buffable wax films which are easy to polish and they are therefore suitable as an additive for liquid floor polishes or for other applications in which the formation of wax films is required (e. g. car waxes and furniture polishes).
In the manufacture of fine and low-viscosity wax dispersions with
Luwax A is important to cool down the clear solution of the waxes in the solvent as quickly as possible whilst stirring vigorously (water cooling).
A further improvement in the fineness of the particles is provided by subsequent brief homogenisation with a high-speed stirrer (e. g. Ultra-Turrax).
Sudan dyes or dye base pulping can be used to colour solved-based wax preparations.
Metal industry:
Upon drying, liquid dispersions of Luwax A, either alone or together with other waxes, in aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons (see section on “Polishes”) form very dense, buffable films on surfaces; these films are impervious to air, corrosive gases, water, salt solutions, acids, alkalis, coolant and other aggressive substances.
These films are therefore very good for protecting metal surfaces from corrosion, e. g. during transportation by sea or during storage of new tools, machinery and motors, to preserve the coated surface of new motor vehicles, refrigerators, washing-machines etc., and for car underbody protection.
Because of the high dropping point of Luwax A, these anticorrosion films can even be used at working temperatures of up to 90 ºC, depending on the composition of the wax blends.
The wax films can be removed easily and completely with cold cleaning agents based on organic solvents (aliphatic hydrocarbons) and surfactants.
Steam-jet cleaning also works very well.
Formulations 3 – 4 for liquid floor polishes (on page 6) can be recommended for the production of fine wax dispersions with Luwax A.
A balancing of film properties, like for example buffability, toughness, adhesion and anti-corrosion effect, can be achieved by means of additives such as mineral oils, silicone oils, resins, bitumen and corrosion inhibitors.
Construction industry:
Liquid dispersions of Luwax A, together with paraffins and microcrystalline waxes, are good stripping agents for stripping exposed concrete, especially where there are textured relief surfaces.
At the same time, these dispersions are good impregnating agents and water repellents for concrete-covered walls which are particularly exposed to an industrial or sea atmosphere.
They can be coloured with light-resistant and weather-resistant inorganic or organic pigments and thus function as a masonry paint at the same time.
Hot-melt coatings with Luwax A, which can also be blended with other waxes, act as separating films on bitumen boards and sheeting to prevent them from sticking when they are piled up or rolled up.
Mineral oil industry:
Because of their solvent binding (retention) property, Luwax A can also be used to thicken lubricating oils or to give soft mineral fats and Vaseline a more solid consistency.
The quantities which need to be added are generally below 5 %.
Paper & packaging industry:
Even small additions of Luwax A to paraffins and microcrystalline waxes increase their hardness, abrasion resistance, toughness, blocking point and melting point.
Water vapour and grease permeability are reduced.
Luwax A are therefore suitable as a balancing component in coating and laminating waxes for all types of waxed paper, for food packaging, e. g. frozen food packaging, and in hot-melt adhesives.
These coating waxes consist of paraffins, microcrystalline waxes and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers.
Hydrocarbon resins are added to produce sealing properties (“hot tack”).
True hot-melt adhesives have a high resin content.
Luwax A are compatible with all these substances and can therefore easily be mixed in with the melt.
The addition of Luwax A also has the effect that low-viscosity melts of coating waxes are less easily absorbed by the paper, so the area which can be covered with a given quantity is increased.
Storage of Luwax A:
Luwax A has an unlimited shelf life in Luwax A original packaging, provided Luwax A is stored correctly in a dry place.
The packaging needs to be inspected occasionally to ensure that Luwax A is still intact.
Handling of Luwax A:
Provide respiratory protection, eye protection and protection against electrostatic charging when transferring large quantities of powder without suction equipment.
Luwax A is advisable to sweep up any spillage immediately to avoid the risk of slipping.
Safety of Luwax A:
We know of no ill effects that could have resulted from using
Luwax A for the purpose for which they are intended and from processing them in accordance with current practice.
According to the experience we have gained over many years and other information at our disposal, Luwax A do not exert any harmful effects on health, provided that they are used properly, due attention is given to the health and safety precautions necessary for handling
chemicals, and the information and advice given in our safety data sheets are observed.
Properties of Luwax A:
Melting point (DSC): 51007 D-3418 101 – 109 ºC
Dropping point (Ubbelohde): 51801 D-3954 107 – 114 ºC
Melt viscosity (120 °C): 51562 D-2162 950 – 1550 mm2/s
Density (23 °C): 53479 D-792 0.910 – 0.930 g/cm3
Molar mass: approx. 7000 g/mol
Chemical nature of Luwax A:
Low-density polyethylene wax
