Petrochemicals

Fischer Tropsch wax is an ideal additive in adhesive processing, particularly in the field of EVA-based hot-melt adhesives. Its advantages are primarily reflected in the following aspects: Reduced viscosity and improved flowability: Fischer-Tropsch wax has a very low viscosity at high temperatures, which significantly reduces the overall viscosity of the hot-melt adhesive. This not only improves the flowability of the adhesive, making it easier to pump and apply, but also effectively wets the surface of the substrate, thereby enhancing bond strength. Enhanced production efficiency: During the mixing stage of hot-melt adhesive production, Fischer-Tropsch wax reduces screw torque, enabling rapid mixing and melting, and lowering energy consumption. Improved heat resistance: Due to its high melting point, Fischer-Tropsch wax effectively raises the softening point of the adhesive, enabling it to remain stable in high-temperature environments without deformation or failure.

Main Applications of Fischer-Tropsch Wax in Candle Manufacturing ‌Enhancing Gloss and Aesthetic Quality:‌ Fischer-Tropsch wax creates a smoother candle surface and ensures more uniform colour distribution, producing a bright visual effect during combustion, making it particularly suitable for decorative candles. ‌Reducing Shrinkage and Deformation:‌ Its stable molecular structure reduces the shrinkage rate during the candle cooling process, minimising dents or unevenness and improving yield. Extended Burn Time: With a high carbon content and stable combustion, it provides a sustained fuel supply, making it suitable for scenarios requiring prolonged burning, such as religious ceremonies and emergency lighting. Reduced Soot and Pollution: It burns more completely than ordinary paraffin wax, significantly reducing soot and residue, making it more environmentally friendly.

Fischer-Tropsch wax is used in various formulations of hot-melt adhesives: Low-temperature/high-speed packaging hot-melt adhesives: By combining Fischer-Tropsch wax with polyolefins, tackifying resins and other components, it is possible to produce low-temperature hot-melt adhesives suitable for food and beverage packaging, which cure rapidly and provide a strong bond. High-bond-strength hot-melt adhesives: New technologies utilise Fischer- Tropsch wax as a viscosity modifier, combined with specialised polymers, to develop products with exceptional adhesion to difficult-to-bond materials such as metals. Functional hot-melt adhesives: Fischer-Tropsch wax is also used to manufacture hot-melt adhesives with specialised functions, such as electret hot-melt adhesives for high-efficiency filtration materials.

Lubricant wax: Fischer-Tropsch wax is widely used in the lubricants sector. It offers excellent lubricating properties and thermal stability, and is commonly used in products such as lubricating oils, release agents and chain lubricants. Candle wax: Fischer-Tropsch wax is a commonly used raw material in candle manufacturing. It provides good burning properties and stability, and is frequently used in the production of various candles, such as pillar candles, tapered candles and candle wicks. Packaging wax: Fischer-Tropsch wax also has applications in the packaging industry. It offers moisture-proof, waterproof and anti-corrosive properties, and is commonly used in food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging and cosmetics packaging. Printing wax: In printing inks, Fischer-Tropsch wax acts as a thickener, gloss enhancer and adhesion promoter. It is frequently used in the production of printed materials such as packaging, labels and posters.

Fischer-Tropsch wax is widely used in road marking paints and serves as a key performance additive. It significantly improves the application properties of the coating, enhances film quality, and extends the service life of the markings. Improved Application and Flow Properties Reduced Melt Viscosity: Fischer-Tropsch wax effectively reduces the viscosity of the coating in its molten state, giving it better flow and levelling properties. This makes it easier to apply, resulting in smooth, aesthetically pleasing markings. Prevention of Pigment Settling: It acts as a dispersant, helping to distribute pigments and fillers uniformly within the resin. This prevents settling during application, ensuring the uniformity of the coating and the stability of its colour.

When making jar candles, the wax is typically poured directly into a cup- shaped container, which places higher demands on the candle’s physical properties and burn quality. Fischer-Tropsch wax is ideally suited to meet these requirements: Excellent hardness and surface texture: It imparts a smooth, refined texture to the surface of the cup candle, making it easy to demould and resistant to breakage, making it highly suitable for producing shaped cup candles or those requiring mass production. A pure, eco-friendly burning experience: Fischer-Tropsch wax has a chemically pure structure, free from impurities such as sulphur and nitrogen. It produces virtually no smoke or odour when burning, meeting modern consumers’ demand for healthy and environmentally friendly products.

Low-melting-point Fischer-Tropsch wax is a premium raw material for candle making, particularly suitable for the production of high-end artisanal candles and scented candles. Environmentally friendly and safe: The production process does not involve the use of benzene compounds; the product is non-toxic and odourless, complying with stringent European and American environmental standards, and is suitable for export and high-end markets. Superior appearance: After refining, it boasts a snow-white colour and fine crystalline structure, significantly enhancing the lustre and texture of the candle surface. Stable performance: It exhibits high chemical inertness and excellent oxidation resistance, making it resistant to yellowing and brittleness caused by light exposure or ageing, and producing minimal smoke and soot during combustion.

Fischer-Tropsch wax is used in candle manufacturing, and its key advantage lies in its ability to significantly enhance the physical properties and burning quality of candles. 1. Enhances hardness and heat resistance, improving appearance Increases the softening point: Even a small amount can raise the softening point of the entire candle, making it less prone to deformation in high- temperature environments and improving its weather resistance. Enhances texture: With its fine crystalline structure, Fischer-Tropsch wax imparts a greater lustre to the candle surface and improves its texture. 2. Safe and environmentally friendly, with cleaner combustion Fischer-Tropsch wax is a wax synthesised from coal gasification and is classified as a clean raw material. Pure and odourless: The product undergoes hydro-refining, resulting in a snow-white appearance that is odourless and tasteless. Low-smoke and non-toxic: It produces minimal smoke during combustion and contains no harmful substances such as sulphur, nitrogen or aromatics. It burns more completely, thereby reducing harm to the environment and human health.

Fischer-Tropsch wax is widely used across numerous industrial sectors due to its high purity, low oil content, excellent thermal stability and chemical inertness. High-end candle production: 52°C Fischer-Tropsch wax offers excellent combustion stability and is free from sulphur and heterocyclic aromatics, making it suitable for high-end artisanal candles. It effectively prevents smoke emission and enhances combustion uniformity. PVC processing lubricant: As an external lubricant, it improves the flow properties and surface gloss of PVC pipes, profiles and sheets, whilst enhancing extrusion efficiency. Colour masterbatches and filler masterbatches: It aids in the dispersion of pigments and fillers, enhancing colour strength and the surface finish of the finished products. Hot-melt adhesives: Suitable for food-contact hot-melt adhesives, as they are odourless and non-polluting, whilst improving the adhesive’s heat resistance and curing speed. Inks and coatings: Used as abrasion-resistant agents, dispersants and gloss enhancers in water-based or solvent-based inks; acts as a lubricant in powder coatings, reducing energy consumption.

Micronized wax is used in water-based coatings primarily to enhance the mechanical properties of the coating surface, such as abrasion resistance and scratch resistance, whilst also adjusting the gloss and feel. Micronized wax plays the following key roles in water-based coatings: Enhancing surface protection: It significantly improves the coating’s scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, which is its core function. Adjusting gloss and feel: It possesses effective matting properties and can provide a smooth or soft tactile sensation. Preventing sticking: It forms a barrier layer on the coating surface, effectively preventing coatings from sticking together when stacked.

Due to its excellent dispersibility, micronized FT wax is widely used as a high-performance additive across numerous industrial sectors. In the ink and coatings sector, it is primarily employed as a surface additive in printing inks, industrial coatings, wood coatings and powder coatings. In terms of enhancing surface properties, it provides excellent abrasion and scratch resistance, increases surface smoothness and improves the tactile feel. In the plastics and masterbatch sector, it is commonly used as a dispersant and lubricant for pigments or fillers in masterbatches, modified plastics and PVC processing. As a dispersant, it effectively wets dyes and fillers, improving their uniform dispersion within the resin.

The most classic and widespread application of micronized wax is as a matting agent to achieve a soft, muted finish. Its core principle is that after coating application, as solvents evaporate, the micronized wax migrates and precipitates onto the paint film surface, forming a layer of fine micro- roughness. This structure causes incident light to undergo diffuse reflection, thereby reducing gloss. Compared to traditional silica matting agents, micronized wax delivers a unique set of comprehensive properties alongside its matting effect. It imparts a refined, soft tactile sensation – even a silky feel – with minimal impact on the film's transparency and colour. Consequently, it finds extensive use in solvent-borne, water-based coatings and inks, as well as powder coatings. It is particularly suited to applications demanding superior surface performance, such as high-end wood finishes, industrial coatings, and printing inks.

OPE wax as a dispersant: primary application areas In masterbatch production, it serves as a dispersant, lubricant and gloss enhancer for pigments or fillers in the manufacture of concentrated masterbatches, polypropylene masterbatches, and filler masterbatches. Its advantages lie in enhancing pigment dispersion concentration and uniformity within masterbatches, resulting in more vivid and consistent colours in end products while improving surface gloss. In plastics processing, during the manufacture of PVC, PE and similar materials, it functions not only as an internal and external lubricant but also aids in dispersing fillers and improving melt flow. This achieves uniform dispersion of pigments and fillers within the plastic, preventing colour spots and agglomeration while enhancing the product's visual quality and physical properties.

OPE wax, or oxidized polyethylene wax, serves as a crucial additive in masterbatch processing. Highly dispersible: OPE wax possesses polar carboxyl and hydroxyl groups along its molecular chain. This unique structure confers exceptional affinity for pigments and fillers. Dual lubrication: It functions as both an ‘internal lubricant’ and ‘external lubricant’ during processing. Internal lubrication reduces the viscosity of the plastic melt, facilitating smoother flow and enhancing production efficiency. External lubrication forms a protective layer between the melt and equipment surfaces, preventing material adhesion and easing demoulding. Quality Enhancement: Beyond its intrinsic properties, OPE wax significantly improves masterbatch appearance. It elevates surface gloss and smoothness, delivering a physical ‘brightening’ effect that lends a more premium aesthetic to the final product.