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Wax Additives for Water Based Inks and Coatings
Shamrock’s Specialty Wax Additives for Water Based Inks and Coatings
Shamrock Technologies’ latest developments in Surface Effect Additives. We are showcasing our smooth-feel ultrafine Textures, easy-to-add wax additives and dispersions as featured in the AquaFLON, Hydrocer and Neptune product lines. Shamrock has released several new products in addition to their existing product lines. These products include CSP 87NS, FSP UV-808, FSP UV-515T, CeraTHIX 58R, CeraTHIX 68ST, and S-156.
The 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 packages provide optimum slip and mar resistance in aqueous systems. They are designed with features optimized for easy incorporation into water based systems.
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.
The Neptune product line is engineered for ease of dispersibility of waxes in water. This product line is composed of hydrophilized synthetic waxes, thus making them excellent for polar systems to provide mar and scuff resistance, slip and ease of dispersibility in water based formulas.
Shamrock creates the innovative products our customers need to grow their businesses. For more than 75 years, Shamrock advances have driven the use of PTFE and wax additives in a wide range of applications including inks, coatings, lubricants, thermoplastics, and personal care products. Shamrock is the global leader in PTFE additives, pioneering their use for inks and coatings and offering an extensive product line including PTFE powders, specialty waxes, compounds, and premium dispersions. These “problem solvers” enhance our customers’ products by controlling slip, rub/abrasion resistance, surface texture, matting, feel, and water repellency.
Discover Shamrock Technologies’ modified wax dispersions and micropowders featured in the AquaFLON, Hydrocer and Neptune product lines. We believe these easy-to-incorporate products are the next generation of wax additives.
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 | 50 | <2 | 1.5 | 7 | PTFE based emulsion for thin film coatings |
| AquaFLON® 52 | 60 | 3 | 3.0 | 7 | PTFE dispersion for scratch resistance |
| AquaFLON® 178G | 48 | 6 | 4 | 6.5 | PE/PTFE dispersion for both slip and abrasion |
| AquaFLON® 605 | 50 | 8 | 2.5 | 6 | Spherical wax/PTFE for thin film and OPV |
| AquaFLON® 797 | 45 | 7 | 5 | 6 | PTFE/Synthetic wax dispersion for scuff and abrasion resistance |
| AquaFLON® MG | 46 | 5 | 2.5 | 7 | PTFE/Wax alloy for thin film coatings for 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 % | MV (µm) | NPIRI | Hegman | Application Notes |
| Hydrocer 257 | 45 | 10 | 4 | 6.5 | General use dispersion for slip and abrasion resistance |
| Hydrocer 357 | 50 | 10 | 5 | 5.5 | General use balanced slip and abrasion resistance |
| Hydrocer D-336 | 36 ± 3 | 9 | 5.5 | 6.0 | Slip and water beading |
Micronized Wax Powders
Micronized waxes are used in printing ink to provide rub resistance while maintaining over-printability. Gloss and slip are other considerations in the selection of wax. In coatings, wax provides mar and abrasion resistance. (Re-coatability, slip, gloss retention or matting, clarity and overall surface properties are important.)
Shamrock produces a full line of micronized waxes: natural, synthetic, and blends that impart specific physical properties. These compositions cover a range of properties to suit various applications. We offer these as products in a range of particle sizes as described by their stir-in reading on NPIRI and Hegman grind gages. A reading of 10 on the NPIRI grind gage equals 25 microns. N5 =12.5 microns, N3= 7.5 microns, etc. We also use instrumentation that measures particle size distribution.
A range of Micronized waxes with varying molecular weights, densities (0.93-0.98 g/cc), melting point (97-130ºC), hardness and solubility for a wide range of applications. (Click specific product grade to open TDS)
| Product | MPºC | Grade | Particle Size MV(µm) | NPIRI (max) | Hegman (min) | Application Notes |
| Neptune 1N1 | 104 | N1 | 5 | 2.5 | 6 | Mar and Scuff resistance for water based inks and coatings |
| Neptune 5223 | 104 | – | 9 | 5 | 6 | Oxidized wax for water based systems |
| Taber Plus 75 | 129 | – | 7 | 5 | 6 | Mar/Scuff/Abrasion resistance |
| SPP 10 | 145 | – | 15 | – | – | Excellent NonSkid additive for flexible packaging inks and coatings |
| S-232N1 | 111 | N1 | 5 | 2.5 | 6.5 | Excellent slip, abrasion resistance and wet rub resistance. |
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