Wax emulsions basically refer to stable mixtures of one or more waxes in water. From our basic knowledge in science, we know that water and wax are immiscible. However, these two compounds may be made to mix with the help of surfactants. On www.waxtechs.com you’ll find wax additives in various forms that have been made using cleaver preparation processes. These emulsion wax suppliers have a wide range of additives containing different blends of waxes depending on their final applications.

Applications of Wax
Emulsions

Wax emulsions have many technical uses such as
making plastics, printing ink, leather polishes, textiles, lubrication, glass
bottle protection, metal corrosion resistance, and water-based varnish. Those
that are made of natural waxes are used to coat candy, fruits, and other crops.

There are
other special types of wax such as the carnauba wax and the paraffin wax that are used in making creams and
ointments.

In a
nutshell, wax emulsions are designed in such a way that they deliver similar
properties as petroleum-based waxes only that wax emulsions are more
environmental friendly. Not only are the wax emulsions “green” but they’re also
readily available.

The Action Mechanisms Of Wax
Emulsions

This
section will help us understand more how wax emulsions really behave. Here are
two mechanisms in which wax emulsions function:

• Blooming Mechanism Of Wax Emulsions

The melted
wax particles attach themselves on the surface and after the wax cools down a
thin but continuous layer is formed. If the surface and the wax are not
compatible, the migration phenomenon will most likely happen.

• Ball-Bearing Mechanism Of Wax Emulsions

In this case, the wax
is not molten. Instead, solid wax particles are used. They migrate individually
to the surface and protrude to act as a physical barrier. They prevent any
other surface from coming in close contact.

Typical Effects Obtained with Wax Emulsions

The wax emulsion
treatment is generally quite inexpensive and is associated with much les
side effects as compared to other surface conditioner additives. Additionally,
it is also more reliable when it comes to reducing inter-surface abrasion so
the surfaces last longer. Let us have a look at three effects given off by the
wax that give it these properties:

• Anti-Blocking Wax Emulsion Effect

This means that when two surfaces are in contact with each other, there
is a non-stick effect. They will still not stick together even under the
influence of temperature, pressure, or humidity. A good example of where this
would be applied is in paints. Normally, if you paint a window and shut it
before it completely dries up, it becomes very difficult to open that window
after. Paraffin and carnauba waxes may be used to give the anti-blocking
effect.

• Slip-Aid Wax Emulsion Effect

Generally, slip means that two surfaces are able to easily glide over
each other without causing any damage. Proper slip-aid effects require an
emulsion to concentrate at both surfaces. It has been shown that harder waxes
give a better slip aid effect.

• Abrasion Resistance Wax Emulsion Effect

Wax emulsions protect surfaces from the action of rubbing, erosion, and
scraping. This effect is generally a combination of basic factors such as
strength, toughness, hardness, elasticity, and slip. Wax emulsions have a great
ability to resist rubbing damage.

Conclusion 


In
this article, we have given an explanation of the dynamics by which wax emulsions operate. We also
tried to link the various wax emulsion properties to the various performance
characteristics and hope that after reading you got a better understanding of wax emulsion technology.
Generally, for any of these properties to be effective, the wax particles need
to protrude on the surface and form a coating layer.