Wax and PTFE Water Based Dispersions and Emulsions

Our HydroCER® and AquaFLON® series are engineered to incorporate wax and PTFE in a dispersed form ranging from submicron emulsions to high solid powder dispersions. They are designed to provide maximum handling efficiency with performance properties such as controlled slip, abrasion resistance and release.

Features and Benefits

  • Gloss and clarity in coatings and inks are typically not affected by the introduction of a wax emulsion
  • Surface protection properties such as abrasion, mar, and scuff resistance without negatively impacting adhesive properties
  • Emulsions have improved stability compared to dispersions
  • Emulsions have a lower viscosity compared to dispersions
  • Mar/Scuff resistance
  • Abrasion resistance
  • Control coefficient of friction
  • Water repellency
  • Improve burnish resistance

The data in the charts show the effects of the various emulsions that Shamrock Technologies offers when evaluated in a water based polyurethane topcoat. The following testing parameters were followed to generate the data:
A commercial water based polyurethane coating was initially tested without any additions to generate baseline data used to determine the performance benefits of the various wax emulsions.

  • When creating the test samples, the various emulsions were post added to the water based polyurethane at the same active wax content. The active wax content was 1.5% of total formula weight.
  • Taber abrasion and Coefficient of Friction (COF) testing was run on panels that were allowed to cure for 72 hours, dry film thickness was 0.6 mils.
  • Taber abrasion testing was run for 300 cycles using 500 gram weights and CS-10 abrasive wheels.
This chart compares the reduction in coefficient of friction, presented in an increase of slip, of the various wax emulsions offered by Shamrock Technologies. Note that our Hydrocer® AE-PP40i shows a decrease in slip versus the control. This product is intended for use in floor coatings where an increase in slip is typically not desired. Hydrocer® AE-PP40i can be used to increase the coefficient of friction when seeking ASTM D2047 compliance.
This chart compares the Taber abrasion resistance of the various wax emulsions that Shamrock offers. All of the emulsions except for Hydrocer® AE-PP40i, show a significant improvement in Taber abrasion resistance vs. the control sample that did not contain a wax emulsion. The small reduction in Taber abrasion resistance observed with the sample containing Hydrocer® AE-PP40i is typical for a wax emulsion that decreases slip as it increases the friction generated between the coating and the abrasive wheels used when running a Taber abrasion test.

Wax Emulsion: Waxes emulsified in water to sub-micron particle size to accommodate the thinnest films and maintain gloss and clarity

AQUEOUS EMULSIONS/DISPERSIONS: A range of pre-dispersed micronized waxes for water based systems.
Product % Solid Typical MV (µm) Composition Notes
HydroCER® 59 30 8 PP Non-skid dispersion with good rub resistance
HydroCER® 135 35 8 Amide Bio-based wax dispersion for extreme slip and anti-blocking
HydroCER® 257 45 10 Fischer-Tropsch Excellent slip and mar resistant FT wax dispersion
HydroCER® AD (FT, PE) 60 6 FT, PE Dismulsion® Unique bimodal micronized wax for optimum slip and rub in flexo inks and coatings
HydroCER® AE (PE) 25-40 <1 PE emulsion Slip, rub, scuff and burnish resistance for high gloss flexo inks & coatings
HydroCER® AE (Paraffin) 30-50 <1 Paraffin based emulsion Water repellency and water beading in packaging and exterior coatings
HydroCER® AE (PP) 40 <1 PP based emulsion Anti-skid and traction with excellent clarity for wood coatings
HydroCER® EC (Carnauba) 35-37 <1 Carnauba emulsion Bio-based emulsion for slip, anti-blocking, scuff resistance and high gloss retention

Wax in Water

The Hydrocer product line incorporates micronized wax powders from our S-series waxes in a pre-wetted form to provide maximum handling efficiency with performance properties such as controlled slip, abrasion resistance, and release. If these products separate, simple mixing with paddle or propeller mixer, is all that will be required to redisperse.

Wax Dispersions

Product Solids % NPIRI Hegman pH Application Notes
Hydrocer 135 35 6.0 6 – 9 Provides great slip and release
Hydrocer 257 45 4 6.5 8.5 – 9.5 General use dispersion for slip and abrasion resistance
Hydrocer 303 35  8-10 6.6 – 6.8 Great rub resistance and slip

Dismulsion®

A blend of aqueous wax emulsions and wax powder

Dismulsion®: A blend of aqueous wax emulsions and wax powder
Product % Solids Composition Ionic Nature MV (µm) NPIRI Hegman Features and Benefits Application Notes
HydroCER® D-336 36 Paraffin/PE Anionic 8 5.5 6 Water Repellency, Abrasion and Block Resistance/Slip, Release • Barrier properties
• Mold release
• Sanding aids
HydroCER® AD-60-ET 60 Ox-PE/PE Nonionic 5 2.5 6.5 Abrasion and Block Resistance, Slip • Flexo inks

PTFE in Water

Shamrock’s AquaFLON series is engineered to overcome the inherent incompatibilities between micronized PTFE and water. Ranging from micron-sized dispersions to sub-micron emulsions, these high solids, ready to use lube packagaes provide optimum slip and mar resistance in aqueous systems. They are designed with features optimized for easy incorporation into water based systems.

Product Solids % MV (µm) NPIRI Hegman Application Notes
AquaFLON® 50-RC 50 <2 1.5 7 PTFE based emulsion for thin film coatings
AquaFLON® 52-RC 60 3 3.0 7 PTFE dispersion for scratch resistance
AquaFLON® 178G-RC 48 6 4 6.5 PE/PTFE dispersion for both slip and abrasion
AquaFLON® 797-RC 45 7 5 6 PTFE/Synthetic wax dispersion for scuff and abrasion resistance
AquaFLON® MG-RC 46 5 2.5 7 PTFE/Wax alloy for thin film coatings for high gloss retention

PTFE in Ink Vehicles

FluoroSPERSE dispersions incorporate high quality PTFE found in our SST series in a variety of heat-set and sheet-fed vehicles, including viscoelastic hydrocarbon varnishes, linseed oil, lithographic oil and soya varnishes. The line is comprised of white or toned PTFE providing exceptional slip, rub resistance, and increased efficiency in high volume, automated printing ink manufacturing processes. FluoroSPERSE dispersions are available in paste or pumpable form.

Product Solids % Vehicle Application Notes
FluoroSPERSE® 153V-RC 50 Lithographic varnish Most widely used PTFE dispersion for all offset inks and OPVs.
FluoroSPERSE® 7908-RC 50 Lithographic varnish Light Gray PTFE dispersion for universal use lithographic inks.
FluoroSPERSE® 8233 50 Soya Alkyd Provides Rub resistance and slip
FluoroSPERSE® 966-RC 58 Soya alkyd High loading PTFE dispersion with controlled particle size distribution

Wax Compounds

Wax compounds are prepared by crystallization of wax from solution to obtain fine particles. Shamrock’s CeraSPERSE line includes dispersions in hydrocarbon varnish, linseed oil, lithographic oil and soya varnish. They may be added directly into the mixing container. These products provide excellent slip and rub resistance at addition levels of 5-8% based on formulation.

Product % Active Composition Carrier NPIRI Feature
CeraSPERSE 31 18 Carnauba Butyl Carbitol 2 Slip and scratch resistance
CeraSPERSE 87NS 25 Modified Wax Vegetable oil 2.5 High gloss, high COF applications
CeraSPERSE 171 37 PE Vegetable oil 2 Slip and rub resistance
CeraSPERSE 174-RC 44 PE/PTFE Linseed oil 2 Combined features from PE and PTFE for enhanced rub resistance, slip and gloss
CeraSPERSE 321BG-RC 25 PE/PTFE/ Carnauba Butyl Carbitol 2 Slip and abrasion resistance for High gloss clear applications