Waxes for pencils and wax crayons
Waxes are widely used for the manufacture of pencils and wax crayons.
Leads of colored pencils contain waxes to soften the lead and ensure a smooth writing behavior. On the other hand waxes improve the elasticity of the leads and reduce brittleness. Different waxes from Clariant’s Licowax range can be recommended for this, especially modified montan waxes and polyethylene waxes.
Wooden pencils can be coated with traditional solvent based or water based laquers or with hot melt coatings based on different polymers. Clariant’s Licocene performance polymers are especially suitable for such coatings. Their softening temperature is lower than that of traditional polyethylene or polypropylene waxes and they can be delivered with defined melt viscosity for optimal application. They possess an excellent adhesion to the wooden surface, and produce a scratch proof surface with appealing touch. Coloration can be done using pigments or wax compatible pigment preparations. The properties of the coatings can be modified with several additives.
The stability and writing behavior of wax crayons relies mainly on the wax mixture. Polyethylene waxes are used to improve the stability of wax crayons against fracture and deformation at elevated temperatures.