Polyethylene Wax (PE Wax) Supplier in Malaysia
- Also known as
- PE Wax
- Polythene Wax
Polyethylene wax supplier for coating, ink, plastics and compounding buyers in Malaysia, working with the material the trade also calls PE wax. It is a low molecular weight polyethylene, supplied either as a homopolymer or in oxidised form, so no single CAS number or formula describes the whole range.
Form and particle size are the first choices a formulator makes. Micronised powder serves matting, slip and mar resistance in coatings and inks, ground powder suits masterbatch and dry blends, and prills, pastilles or flake are used where the wax is metered as a free-flowing solid or melted into a batch. Oxidised grades add polarity for pigment wetting and emulsifiable systems.
Drop or softening point, melt viscosity, density and molecular weight range are the properties buyers quote, alongside particle size for powders. Polyethylene wax is not paraffin wax and it is not polyethylene glycol, even though all three appear in wax and lubricant enquiries.
State the form, the chemistry, the properties the formulation needs, the quantity and where it is going. Packing, documentation and commercial terms are settled at quotation stage.
- Grade
- homopolymer, oxidised
- Appearance
- white to off-white solid supplied as fine powder, prills, pastilles or flake
Polyethylene Wax grades and forms
We supply several forms to suit different formulating and dosing setups. If you need a size that is not listed, ask us.
| Grade | Form | Assay | Typical use | Packing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micronised polyethylene wax powder | fine white powder | homopolymer grade, micronised to a stated particle size | Matting, slip, mar and rub resistance in solvent-borne and water-based coatings, stains, lacquers and gravure or flexo inks, where a fine particle size disperses without grit. | Supplied in bags; the pack size is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Ground polyethylene wax powder | white powder | — | Dry blending into masterbatch, colour concentrate and compound recipes where a coarser powder feeds and meters more easily than a micronised grade. | Supplied in bags; the pack size is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Polyethylene wax prills or pastilles | white prills, pastilles or beads | — | Internal and external lubricant duty in PVC extrusion, injection moulding and pipe or profile compounds, dosed as a free-flowing solid that melts into the polymer. | Supplied in bags; the pack size is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Polyethylene wax flake | white to off-white flake | — | Hot-melt adhesive and sealant blending, and viscosity or set-time adjustment where the wax is charged into a melt tank rather than into a dry mixer. | Supplied in bags; the pack size is confirmed with the quotation. |
| Oxidised polyethylene wax | white powder, prills or flake | — | Polar grade for pigment wetting, emulsifiable systems, textile and leather auxiliaries, and PVC processing where compatibility with polar additives is required. | Solid grade packing is confirmed with the quotation. |
How to buy polyethylene wax from ChemTrade
Request a quote for polyethylene wax
Use the form below to request a quotation. You can also email sales@chemtrademalaysia.com or send us a message on WhatsApp.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | white to off-white solid as powder, prills, pastilles or flake | — |
| Chemistry | low molecular weight polyethylene, supplied as homopolymer or in oxidised form; no single CAS or formula covers the range | — |
| Drop or softening point | grade dependent, stated on the grade quoted °C | — |
| Melt viscosity | typical value grade dependent, measured at a stated temperature mPa.s | — |
| Density | typical value grade dependent g/cm3 | — |
| Molecular weight range | low molecular weight, varying by grade; state the range the formulation was developed against | — |
| Particle size | applies to micronised and ground powders; state the mean or maximum size the application requires | — |
| Acid value | applies to oxidised grades only, grade dependent mg KOH/g | — |
Polyethylene Wax applications
Safety and handling
Store in a cool, dry place in closed bags, away from heat and ignition sources, and keep powders from becoming airborne during charging. Handle fine powder with normal dust control and follow the safety information for the grade quoted.
Common questions about polyethylene wax
Is polyethylene wax the same as paraffin wax?
No. Polyethylene wax is a low molecular weight polyethylene made by polymerisation or by cracking polymer, while paraffin wax is refined from petroleum fractions and behaves differently in hardness, melt viscosity and compatibility. Order paraffin wax, slack wax or a natural wax by name if that is what the formulation calls for.
Is polyethylene wax the same as polyethylene glycol?
No. Despite the shared word, polyethylene glycol is a water-soluble ethylene oxide polymer used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and lubricant work, whereas polyethylene wax is a water-insoluble hydrocarbon wax. They are separate products with separate specifications, so name the one the recipe requires.
What is PE wax?
PE wax is the trade shorthand for polyethylene wax and refers to the same material. Buyers use both terms interchangeably, along with polythene wax, and an enquiry under any of them is treated as the same product family.
What is the difference between homopolymer and oxidised polyethylene wax?
Homopolymer grades are non-polar and suit lubricant, matting and dispersion duty in hydrocarbon systems. Oxidised grades carry polar groups, which improves pigment wetting, emulsifiability and compatibility with polar additives, so state which chemistry the formulation was built around.
How fine is micronised polyethylene wax?
Micronised powders, also written micronized, are milled to a narrow particle size distribution, typically in the single-digit to low-tens micron range depending on the grade, which is what lets a matting or slip additive disperse without visible grit. State the mean or maximum particle size the coating or ink specification sets.
Which properties should I quote when asking for a grade?
Give the drop or softening point, melt viscosity at a stated temperature, density, molecular weight range, particle size for powders and the acid value if an oxidised grade is needed. Naming the application as well lets a comparable grade be proposed where the exact figures are unavailable.
Can a polyethylene wax emulsion or dispersion be supplied?
Water-based wax emulsions and dispersions are formulated products rather than the solid wax itself, so state clearly whether the requirement is a dry grade or a ready-made emulsion. Solid grades are supplied as powder, prills, pastilles or flake.
What details are needed for a polyethylene wax quotation?
List the form, the homopolymer or oxidised chemistry, the target properties and particle size, the end application, the quantity and the delivery point. Packing and documentation are settled at quotation stage, and supply is subject to applicable requirements.