A micronized wax is a wax powder produced by spray chilling or jet milling. They have a particle size that averages at less than 10 micrometers. The waxes are linear synthetic paraffin that is made by polymerization of ethylene or through the reaction of carbon monoxide.
Branched micronized wax provides a high molecular weight of hardness that is useful for a particular solubility. Before tianshi wax starts producing the micronized waxes, the coarse powder was milled to produce liquid printing inks. In the paste ink, the wax is liquefied in a hot resin solution and dispensed into a mill to precipitation of fine particles.
Here are the key features of micronized waxes.
- Digital imaging
Micronized waxes are essential in numerous thermal ink systems like transfer ribbons and toners. It is controlled, and narrow melting points allows it to have lower print temperatures, better-quality print durability, and high print speeds. It can be improvised and customized for compatibility, based on the ink resin used in a particular application.
- Polymers
Since micronized waxes have higher linearity and low polydispersity, they make ideal nucleating agents in expanded polystyrene application. They also have high crystallinity. Their controlled and consistent melting habit allows them to be perfect extrusion aids in several polymer systems. Additionally, they are the best anti-blocking agents in polymer films and mold production in PU application.
- Cosmetics
Micronized waxes are designed to meet the ends of a high molecule weight polyethylene and higher melting paraffin wax in both personal and cosmetic care formulations. They are utilized for improving the product stability, texture, and controlling melting point. Reliability and consistency of performance offer the same key benefits for other departments like coatings, ceramics, and high-performance hot melt adhesives.
- Wax addictive
The wax addictive in the industrial coating offers the performance of hand feeling, matting, abrasion resistance, and sand ripples effect. The wax additives gather on the surface of the coating to get various effects as required. The wax that has a low melting point helps to increase the smoothness of the surface while the high melting point wax helps to enhance machinery resistance.
With the advancement of coating technology, the production and refined processing of micronized wax powder have greatly improved. There are two major methods of technology, including the fusion spraying technology and higher-pressure air flow production methodology.
The fusion spraying method is ideal for lower molecular weight, low viscosity wax, and low molecular. This is because the raw material has a high performance of solvent resistance and abrasion resistance.
Uses of micronized wax
Micronized wax is utilized in printing ink to offer rub resistance as it maintains over-printability. Slip and gloss are some of the considerations when it comes to the assortment of wax. In coatings, micronized wax offers abrasion and mar resistance. In most cases, micronized wax is produced in full range, including synthetic and natural that impact certain physical properties. Note that these alignments cover a wide range of properties that fit different applications.