Oxidised Polyethylene Wax

About This Product

This is a low molecular weight high-density polyethylene homopolymer that has been oxidised with air at elevated temperature, under control, so that a set number of carboxyl, hydroxyl and carbonyl groups sit along the polymer chain. It is delivered as a white powder or as granules.

Ordinary polyethylene wax has no polarity. That makes it a good external lubricant but a weak dispersant, because it has no affinity for the polar surfaces of pigments, fillers or PVC resin. Oxidation adds that affinity while the material stays a wax. The acid value, usually quoted at roughly 15 to 30 mg KOH/g, shows how far the oxidation has gone and is the figure that governs performance. A higher acid value means better wetting of titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate and flame-retardant fillers, easier emulsification in water and more internal lubrication in PVC; a lower one keeps more of the release and slip of the unmodified wax. Because the base polymer is high density rather than branched, the melting point stays sharp and the hardness high, so the wax lubricates at processing temperature without softening the finished article. It earns its place in compounds that need dispersion and lubrication in the same step, which covers most highly filled formulations.

Typical end uses are PVC cable filling compounds for fibre optic and telecom cables, processing aid duty in TPE and highly filled thermoplastics, pigment and filler masterbatches, hot-melt adhesives, and wax emulsions for coatings, textiles and polishes.

BG Petro Chemicals supplies it in 25 kg bags to an agreed specification covering acid value, drop melting point, viscosity, density and penetration hardness, with a batch certificate of analysis. Tell us the acid value range your formulation calls for.