Polyethylene wax powder

Polyethylene wax powder

Polyethylene wax powder is a type of synthetic polymer obtained from petroleum derivatives, which is classified among polyethylene’s. Physically, it has a solid appearance at ambient temperature; But by being exposed to heat, it can change its shape and become a liquid while maintaining its chemical structure and properties. Polyethylene wax powder as a widely used industrial and commercial product has many practical advantages and is produced in both sanitary and industrial forms for various purposes.
Polyethylene wax powder, which is also called wax powder for short, is a kind of synthetic polymer obtained from petroleum derivatives, which has many applications in various industries. The chemical structure of these compounds includes connections of ethylene monomer chains, which are made by connecting them to larger molecules. Wax powder is among linear polyethylene’s, which is obtained in industrial reactors by dissolving ethylene gas in hexane and in the presence of a catalyst. This product is actually one of the by-products of polyethylene production, which is produced during the polymerization process.

It is necessary to explain that compounds are called waxes which are primarily organic, and secondly, at ambient temperature, they physically have a solid appearance; But by being exposed to heat, they can change shape and become liquid while maintaining their chemical structure and properties. In this respect, polyethylene wax powders are classified in the category of thermoplastic products.
Features of polyethylene wax powder
Among the structural features of powdered polyethylene wax , the following can be mentioned:

Higher degree of purity
Crystalline and crisp appearance
Linear chemical structure
Colorless and odorless
Lubricant use
Emulsion and non-emulsion types
Solubility in solvents such as chloroform and cyclohexane
Temperature sensitivity
Insoluble in water, acetone and alcohol
Resistance to corrosion, brittleness and chemicals
Types of polyethylene wax powder
At present, various types of wax powder are offered by domestic and foreign manufacturers in terms of variety of uses with different brands, which we will review below.

Edible polyethylene wax

These types of waxes do not pose a particular risk to the health of consumers due to their use in the food industry and are widely used in various food industries to maintain the quality and appearance of edibles. For example, in the dairy industry, polyethylene wax powder is used to add to cheese to prevent it from drying; Or they are used in factories producing pastilles for children.

Industrial Polyethylene wax powder

As mentioned earlier, polyethylene powder is used in various industries. The characteristic of these industrial waxes is that they are often processed in a non-toxic and refined form. These waxes are used in a wide range for the production of candles, injection plastic, water and sewage pipes, composite and textile production.

Applications of polyethylene wax powder

The uses of polyethylene wax powder include many cases, which we will mention below:

The structure of cosmetic products such as sunscreens and moisturizers
In making packaging of food products, especially dairy products, grains and legumes
Preparation of all kinds of bottles
Production of hot melt adhesives
Packaging bags for construction materials such as cement
In the production of car tires to prevent cracking and brittleness
As a protector in the construction of wood parquets and other floor coverings to prevent oxidation and penetration of water and humidity.
Preparation of polymer pipes for water, sewage and gas transportation
Lubricant in metalworking and PVC production
Preventing fabric color change and fabric yellowing in the textile industry
Edible type in spray on the surface of fruits to create a shiny and fresh appearance and to prevent oxidation of fruits, especially citrus fruits.
Advantages and disadvantages of polyethylene powder
Polyethylene wax powder as a widely used industrial and commercial product has many practical advantages, some of its most important features are mentioned in the table below:

Advantages disadvantages polyethylene wax powder

Health is more expensive
Resistant to corrosions and chemicals, physical resistance and low flexibility compared to other polyethylene’s
Non-dissolving in water and being waterproof, there is a risk of ignition and fire in inferior types
Melting point above 110°C Vulnerability to sunlight and oxygen
Lightness and resistance to shock and mechanical blows. Limited expiration date

Buy polyethylene wax powder

Fortunately, our country, Iran, is one of the main producers of polyethylene. Polyethylene wax powder is also produced in two toxic and non-toxic forms for various uses. Its non-toxic types are used in the cosmetic, health and food industries, and different brands of this product can be found in the market. Of course, there are fake and counterfeit or lower quality waxes in the market. This category of counterfeit products often has many impurities including paraffin or other additives. These impurities cause the roughness and fragility of polyethylene at normal ambient temperature, and as a result, they are considered to be the cause of the loss of product quality and usability.