As coatings and inks formulators move away from traditional solvent-based systems because of environmental regulations and a growing focus on sustainability, they still need their products to deliver the same level of protection and aesthetic properties their customers expect.

Wax additives play an important role in optimizing the final performance of coatings and inks by efficiently controlling surface properties, helping close the performance gap between water-based and solvent-based systems. Water-based waxes enable this move to effective water-based systems that enhance and protect appearance, feel, slip, abrasion resistance and overall durability of coatings and inks.

The Latest Technology in Wax Dispersions

Lubrizol recently introduced the latest technology of high-solids wax additives for water-based coatings (wood, decorative, general industrial) and printing inks with the release of Lanco™ Glidd 6734 and Lanco™ Glidd 6635. Both are high-solids PE wax dispersions and both eliminate the use of solvent-based components, enabling high-performing water-based coatings and inks to achieve similar performance while meeting demands from increased regulatory or end-use requirements.

These two new high-solids wax dispersions have demonstrated strong performance in testing, providing gloss control, hardness and slip for water-based systems that is similar to traditional PE waxes that don’t have high-solids content, as well as excellent in-can stability and ease of incorporation. Product quality and capacity can be improved by reducing the material required for a formulation or simplifying the processing steps through the use of these two water-based systems. From a sustainability perspective, the high-solids content reduces the volume of product needed, leading to fewer shipments and a lower transportation carbon footprint.

Lanco™ Glidd 6734

Lanco Glidd 6734 is a small particle size, wax dispersion based on PE wax. It is designed for use in water-based coatings and inks. Lanco Glidd 6734 is specifically formulated to provide efficiency at low dosage levels while keeping gloss levels high. It offers high stability, sustainability, and scratch, rub and abrasion resistance.

Product Performance

In testing, Lanco Glidd 6734 was compared to traditional PE wax dispersions and emulsions across a range of properties. Here are just a couple of the results in water-based acrylic modified oil copolymer dispersion.

Gloss Efficiency

Gloss Test Graph

Abrasion Resistance

Abrasian Resistance Test Results

Lanco Glidd 6734 offers tunable gloss — from matte to semi-gloss — without compromising clarity. It also offers improved surface hardness.

Lanco™ Glidd 6735

Lanco Glidd 6535 is a high-solid (65%) wax preparation designed for the use in water-based coatings and inks. It provides excellent in-can stability, matting and mechanical performance at reduced overall costs.

Product Performance

In testing, Lanco Glidd 6735 was compared to a PTFE-based dispersion, a standard PE dispersion and a control across a range of properties. Below are just a couple of the results in water-based in acrylic modified oil copolymer dispersion.

Matting Efficiency

Gloss Test Results

Improved Surface Hardness

Scratch Resistance Test Results

Storage Stability

Both new wax dispersions also demonstrate excellent in-can stability. After more than six months at room temperature, they show no viscosity increase, sedimentation or flotation. The same is true for storage stability conditions of greater than 6 weeks at 45°C (5% in TL-06 -16).

In-Can Stability - Visual

These new water-based systems provide superior performance while helping meet sustainability goals through the elimination of solvent components, reduced cost in transit due to higher percentage of solids and a reduced carbon footprint with new raw material options.

Lubrizol has considerable experience developing wax dispersions for use in multiple liquid carriers, including the latest water-based systems that enable advanced surface protection.

Aqueous Wax Dispersions Enable High Performing Water-Based Coatings and Inks