Scratch and abrasion resistance, slip, matting and anti-blocking — surface protection through the wax phase in the film.
Waxes act where the film is mechanically stressed. After drying they concentrate at the surface and form a thin, slippery protective layer: the scratch goes into the wax instead of the binder, stacked parts do not stick together, and the feel of the surface changes noticeably. Depending on particle size the wax also scatters light — that is the route to matting without a separate matting agent.
Three things matter in the selection: the wax type (polyethylene, polypropylene, PTFE-modified, amide or of natural origin), the particle size and the supply form. Micronised powders go into the mill base, emulsions and dispersions can be post-added. In a clear system haze is the critical quantity; in multi-layer build-ups it is recoatability and printability — a slip agent that works too well turns the next layer into a problem.
What matters when choosing
Define the goal: scratch resistance, slip, matting or anti-blocking
Wax type: polyethylene, polypropylene, PTFE-modified, amide or of natural origin
Particle size governs the degree of matting and the transparency
Supply form determines incorporation: micronised powder into the mill base, emulsion post-added
Check haze in clear systems
Recoatability and printability where further layers follow
Selection guide at a glance
Wax base
Main effect
Supply form
Typical dosage
Polyethylene (PE)
Scratch resistance, anti-blocking
Micronised or emulsion
0.5–3 %
Polypropylene (PP)
Texture and matting effects
Micronised
0.5–3 %
PTFE-modified
Maximum slip and abrasion protection
Micronised
0.3–2 %
Amide wax
Matting, velvety feel
Micronised
0.5–3 %
Natural waxes (e.g. carnauba)
Slip and feel, natural origin
Emulsion
0.5–3 %
Guide values for initial orientation — our assessment as a distributor. The manufacturer's technical data sheet and trials in your own system are decisive.
Trade names in our range
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