Slack Wax LMO (Light Machine Oil)

About This Product

Slack Wax LMO is the wax that separates from the light machine oil distillate when lubricating base oils are solvent dewaxed: the distillate is chilled, the wax crystallises and is filtered off. It is a semi-solid petroleum hydrocarbon wax (CAS No. 64742-61-6) made up mainly of straight-chain and branched saturated hydrocarbons in the C20–C50 range. Of the four grades traded as LMO, SPO, MMO and DAO it is the lightest cut, and its colour, near water-white to very pale straw at a maximum of L1.0 on the ASTM D-1500 scale, points to low aromatic content and a high share of paraffin. With a melting point of 47–53°C and an oil content held within a defined 10–25% band, it is the softest grade in the series; a viscosity of 3.1–4.2 cSt at 100°C also makes it the most fluid when hot, so it pumps, blends and applies with little effort. The set oil band supports steady downstream processing and consistent end-product performance. LMO is also a sensible deoiling feedstock for fully refined paraffin wax, needing less processing energy than the heavier grades. Buyers use it as an extender and base wax in candles, to impregnate matches and firelighters, to waterproof MDF and particleboard, as a processing and anti-ozonant aid in rubber compounds, in moisture-barrier coatings for paper and board, in textile lubricants and softeners, in wax emulsions, and in carbon paper and inks. It is shipped in 20–22 MT flexitanks, ISO tank containers, 190 kg steel drums or bulk tanker loads.