What is polyethylene wax? What are its characteristics and applications?

　　Polyethylene wax, also known as polymer wax, is widely used due to its excellent heat resistance, cold resistance, chemical resistance, and wear resistance. In normal production, this wax can be added directly to polyolefin processing as an additive to increase the gloss and processability of the product. It serves as a lubricant, exhibits good electrical properties, and is chemically stable. Polyethylene wax has good compatibility with polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, polypropylene, ethylene propylene rubber, and butyl rubber, and can improve the flowability of polypropylene, polyethylene, and ABS, as well as the demolding properties of polymethyl methacrylate and polycarbonate. Compared with other external lubricants, polyethylene wax has a stronger internal lubricating effect on PVC.

　　Polyethylene wax is a chemical material. It is white, bead-like/flake-like, formed from ethylene polymerization rubber processing aids, and features high hardness, high melting point, high gloss, and a white color. Polyethylene wax is a low-molecular-weight polyethylene homopolymer or copolymer widely used in coatings, providing a more versatile and practical function than paraffin wax.

　　The main functions of polyethylene wax in solvent-based coatings include: scratch resistance, matting, engraving resistance, polishing resistance, wear resistance, anti-settling, anti-blocking, thixotropy; localization of metallic pigments; good lubricity and processability. The mechanism of polyethylene wax is that it dissolves in the solvent at high temperatures and exists in the coating in the form of microcrystals, but precipitates when cooled to room temperature. Due to its thixotropy, it is beneficial for coating storage, and after coating application, it can migrate to the coating surface during solvent evaporation, forming a "waxed" surface with other components of the coating. The effect of polyethylene wax depends on the following factors: the type and specification of polyethylene wax, the fineness of the particles, the ability to migrate to the coating surface, the composition of the coating, the application method of the substrate, and the performance. Polyethylene wax production process: Thermally decomposed polyethylene wax is mainly produced from high-molecular-weight polyethylene with other auxiliary materials through a series of depolymerization reactions. Depolymerization is a key step in the production of polyethylene wax, and the entire depolymerization reaction process must be carried out in a closed reactor.

　　Applications of Polyethylene wax: 1. Concentrated masterbatches and filler masterbatches. Used as a dispersant in color masterbatch processing, widely used in polyolefin color masterbatches, with good compatibility with PVC, PE, PP and other resins, exhibiting excellent external and internal lubrication. 2. Pipes, PVC profiles, and composite stabilizers. Used as a dispersant, brightener, and lubricant in the molding process of PVC profiles, pipes, and PE. Enhances the plasticization of PP and is widely used in the production of PVC composite stabilizers, improving the toughness and surface finish of plastic products. 3. This ink has good light resistance and chemical properties, can be used as a pigment carrier, can improve the dispersibility of pigments and fillers, improve the wear resistance of coatings and inks, has a good anti-settling effect, and can be used as a matting agent for coatings and inks, giving products a good gloss and three-dimensional effect. 4. This cable material is used as a lubricant for cable insulation materials, can enhance filler diffusion, improve extrusion speed, increase mold flow rate, and facilitate demolding.