What Makes Polyethylene Wax Such a Good Lubricant?
Polyethylene wax is a light-weight polyethylene polymer known throughout manufacturing for its diverse applications. It is utilized in food packaging and cosmetics. The printing industry relies on it as a pigment dispersant in inks and coatings. And in the plastics industry, it’s often utilized as an internal lubricant.Let’s talk about polyethylene wax and what makes it such a good lubricant. As we do, bear in mind that there are different types of polyethylene wax, including HDPE (high-density) and LDPE (low-density) products.
Excellent Lubrication Properties
Polyethylene wax demonstrates exceptional lubrication properties. It can be used both externally and internally to reduce friction between machine surfaces and even polymer chains. Its excellent lubrication properties are incredibly attractive in plastic and rubber manufacturing.Used as an external lubricant, polyethylene wax reduces mechanical wear on manufacturing equipment. Used internally, it improves processing efficiency. It’s no surprise that plastic and rubber manufacturers rely so heavily on the material to improve production.
4 Characteristics to Consider
Beyond simple lubrication properties, polyethylene wax exhibits certain characteristics that contribute to its lubricating ability. For the purposes of this post, you want to focus on four such characteristics:- Molecular Structure – In terms of its molecular structure, polythene wax offers two important things: low molecular weight and a linear structure. Combined, these two characteristics encourage wax molecules to migrate to material surfaces where they create a lubricating layer.
- Thermal Stability – Polyethylene wax exhibits a high melting point, usually from 100-140°C. Such exceptional thermal stability means the wax maintains its lubricating capabilities under a variety of thermal conditions.
- Chemical Resistance – Because polyethylene wax is chemically stable, it is also resistant to many different substances. Examples include solvents, acids, and bases. Polyethylene wax is well suited to applications for which chemical exposure is a risk.
- Slipperiness – Polyethylene wax demonstrates a high degree of slipperiness. Thanks to its molecular structure, surface properties, and low surface energy, it is slippery enough to act as a lubricant in applications involving plastics and rubber.
Compatibility With Other Materials
Compatibility is always a concern when engineers are looking at internal and external lubricants. Once again, polyethylene wax performs extremely well. It is compatible with both polar and nonpolar plastics. It can be utilized with a variety of resins including PVC, ABS, and POM.When used as a pigment dispersant, polyethylene wax is compatible with a variety of different matrices. It offers equally uniform dispersion that makes coatings and inks better both aesthetically and in terms of performance.
Polyethylene wax can even be utilized as an adhesive. It works extremely well with paper, cardboard, and similar substrates. It is often utilized to enhance coating and film protection in packaging applications.
Trecora Produces Polyethylene Wax
As a petrochemical processor specializing in industrial chemical solutions, we are proud to produce polyethylene waxes more than capable of meeting the demands of modern manufacturing. Regardless of why your company utilizes polyethylene wax, we likely have a product suitable for your applications.We invite you to learn more about Trecora polyethylene waxes by contacting us today. As internal and external lubricants, it’s hard to beat polyethylene waxes. You might have other applications that don’t involve lubrication. Regardless, Trecora likely has what you need. Let us talk about your application and how a polyethylene wax can improve it.