Wax Modification

Compounds based on petroleum waxes are used for a wide variety of moisture or grease barrier applications where or when a material that is pliable, moldable, chemically inert, and processable at low temperatures is required. Wax compounds are used extensively in food packaging applications as a coating or saturant for paper or cardboard. Modified wax is also an essential component for investment casting compounds used in metal molding via the "lost wax" process. Waxes are used in wire and fiber optic cables to provide waterproofing and flexibility. Wax compounds find use in numerous specialty applications as diverse as dental molding, depilatory compounds, candles, and hard surface polishes.

For most of these applications petroleum wax alone is not satisfactory due to brittleness, lack of adhesion, low solvent resistance, or insufficient hardness. Using additives, including the following products from Eastman Chemical Company, compounded with wax can impart the desired properties to the material.

Physical properties comparison

Product Group	Brand Name	Benefits	Compare
Amorphous Polyolefins	Eastoflex™	Propylene homopolymer and propylene-ethylene copolymers covering a wide range of melt viscosities and softening points. Excellent vehicle for filler and pigment dispersion. As an additive to polyethylene, polypropylene or SEBS block copolymer compounds, these materials increase flexibility, decrease hardness and enhance bondability.
Hydrocarbon Resin	Piccotac™	Imparts improved adhesion, increased flexibility, and increased hardness to wax. Complies with direct food contact regulations. Good compatibility with wax and other components of wax compounds.
Hydrogenated Hydrocarbon Resin	Eastotac™	Excellent compatibility with waxes. Low color. Imparts improved hardness, reduced brittleness, low shrinkage and improved machineability to molding compounds. Higher softening point grades can improve the temperature resistance of wax compounds. Good compatibility with other compound components such as polyethylene.
Hydrogenated Hydrocarbon Resin	Regalite™
Hydrogenated Pure Monomer Resin	Regalrez™	Excellent compatibility with waxes. Low color. Imparts improved hardness, reduced brittleness, low shrinkage and improved machineability to molding compounds. Higher softening point grades can improve the temperature resistance of wax compounds. Good compatibility with other compound components such as polyethylene.
Pure Monomer Resin	Piccolastic™	Limited compatibility with wax. Provides very low thermal shrinkage in wax compounds. Complies with some direct food contact applications. Very low color. Good compatibility with other wax compound components such as EVA.
Pure Monomer Resin	Piccotex™
Rosin Resin	Abalyn™	Liquid rosin ester imparts softness, spreadability and tack in wax compounds for hard surface polishes and cosmetic applications.
	Abitol™	Low color liquid hydrogenated rosin alcohol with limited compatibility with wax. Imparts softness, spreadability and tack in wax compounds for hard surface polishes and cosmetic applications.
	Foral™	Fully hydrogenated rosin esters for use when low color is critical. Good compatibility with waxes and other compound components such as EVA.
	Foralyn™	Partially hydrogenated rosin esters for use when low color is critical. Good compatibility with waxes and other compound components such as EVA.
	Metalyn™	Liquid rosin ester imparts softness, spreadability and tack in wax compounds for hard surface polishes and cosmetic applications. Suitable for applications where color is not critical.
	Pentalyn™	Range of non-hydrogenated rosin esters distinguished by ester type, softening point, color, and rosin source. Complies with many direct food contact regulations. Good compatibility with waxes and other compound components such as EVA. Imparts improved adhesion, increased flexibility, and increased hardness to wax. Suitable for applications where color is not critical.
	Permalyn™
	Poly-Pale™	Partially dimerized rosin resin with limited compatibility with wax. Complies with many direct food contact regulations. The functionality of Poly-Pale permits crosslinking with materials that react with acids. Suitable for applications where color is not critical.
	Staybelite-E™	Partially dimerized rosin resin. Partial hydrogenation improves compatibility with wax. Complies with many direct food contact regulations. The functionality of Poly-Pale permits crosslinking with materials that react with acids.