Wax is used earlier as a matting agent for paints. Its characteristics are simple to use. After the paint is applied, the solvent waxes out and the wax in the paint precipitates, forming fine crystals, floating on the surface of the paint film, and forming a layer of scattered light rough surface to play the role of extinction. In addition to high-molecular mineral waxes, natural waxes are rarely used in paints and replaced by high-molecular waxes and their modified derivatives. They not only extinction effect is good, but also can give the paint film good water resistance, heat and moisture resistance, slip injury, anti-fouling, and have a good feel, their scratch resistance is not reach the pigment extinction.
As a matting agent, the polymer wax is used in an amount of 0.5-3%. It is suitable for acrylic paints, alkyd paints, nitrocellulose paints and polyurethane paints, industrial baking paints, vinyl paints, and latex paints. The combination of high-molecular wax and fumed silica can improve the performance of the paint film, and its matting effect, water resistance, chemical resistance, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, and interlayer adhesion are all significantly improved.
Polyethylene waxes are low molecular weight polyethylene homopolymers or copolymers widely used in coatings. The so-called wax refers to the fact that the final microcrystalline form of the polymer is distributed on the surface of the coating and acts like a wax and is more versatile.
The main role of polyethylene wax in solvent-based coatings is: extinction, anti-settling, thixotropy, good lubrication and processability, and metal positioning.
The addition of polyethylene wax powder to the coating should avoid high temperatures because the polyethylene wax dissolves in the solvent at high temperatures and precipitates on cooling to form larger particles.
The role of polyethylene wax depends on the following factors: the specification of the polyethylene wax, the fineness of the final formed particles, the ability to migrate to the surface of the coating, the composition of the coating, the nature of the substrate being coated, and the method of construction application. Polyethylene wax is used as an additive, in addition to solvent-based coatings and inks, as well as water-based coatings and inks.


The following describes the performance of the role of polyethylene wax 1, a good extinction in the matting coating applications, the amount of silica in the same amount of the range that is effective extinction effect. The amount of extinction depends on the fineness of the dispersed polyethylene wax and its ability to migrate to the surface of the paint film.
As a matting agent, its outstanding advantages are: excellent transparency, smoothness, soft appearance, chemical inertness, non-precipitation, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, and stain resistance.
Its comprehensive performance is far from comparable to other matting agents.
Polyethylene waxes are commonly used as matting agents in: 1, Nitro varnish; 2. Acid-cured varnish; 3. Polyurethane varnish; 4. Polyester varnish to produce high-quality plain varnish.
2. Anti-scratch, anti-abrasion, anti-polishing, and anti-scratch anti-scratch anti-scratching is one of the factors that reduce the coefficient of friction on the surface of the coating. When the object touches the surface of the coating, the sliding tendency is greater than the scratching tendency. The role of polyethylene wax is similar to that of silicone oil. The difference is that the former exists in the form of fine dispersed particles on the surface of the coating.
To achieve scratch resistance requires only a small amount.
Scratch resistance is especially important for high-grade wood coatings and other decorative paints.
Polyethylene wax, added to the coating can greatly reduce the tendency to be rubbed and polished, while maintaining low gloss durability is often desirable in applications. In alkyd varnish, when the amount of polyethylene wax is 1.5%, the anti-wear value of the coating film is doubled, but when the amount is 3%, the anti-wear value is increased by 5 times.
When metal objects come into contact with coated products, they sometimes leave a black mark on the coating. The addition of polyethylene wax to the film can reduce this tendency, or make the mark easy to wipe off.
The use of micronized wax in printing inks can significantly improve the abrasion resistance of the ink.
3, anti-blocking properties Some workpieces such as wooden or metal objects, often in the short-term stacking after the film, printing technology advances also require the ink to avoid contamination of the print.
Polyethylene waxes can prevent sticking or stains caused by the cumulative overlap of production or printed materials.
4, anti-precipitation, anti-sag, thixotropic. Positioning of metallic pigments.
Polyethylene waxes dispersed in aromatic and aliphatic solvents can increase the anti-precipitation properties of coatings and inks. It also shows varying degrees of thixotropy, sag resistance, and localization of metallic pigments.