Waxes are recognizable everywhere we look. We seal things with wax to keep moisture in or out. We use waxes to structure products that deliver active ingredients to our skin or hair. But there is an amazing array of uses for waxes that may not be particularly visible.
Hiding in Plain Sight
Much of what we read on paper requires wax. Tiny wax particles act as carriers for the powdered pigment in the toner cartridges in printers, ensuring that the toner pays out at the proper rate and adheres optimally to the paper. Additionally, the smoothness and permanence of ink in pens is affected by the waxes that act as key ingredients. Colored pencils require waxes to spread color evenly, and so do many paints. So wax use, from creative arts to prosaic office work, goes well beyond the ubiquitous wax crayon. And options are wide open for your formulators to choose between natural and synthetic wax.
Built-in Utility
Waxes in construction extend beyond mere moisture barriers. Construction adhesives and caulking make rheological gains from microcrystalline waxes in their formulas. In addition to the expected water resistance, the texture, viscosity, and adhesion are affected by the wax in the systems. Paints also benefit from wax in their formulations in a variety of ways. Adhesion and flow realize gains in control and ease of application, but acrylic paint formulators can also see an increase in wear and scratch resistance with the addition of the right wax in the right proportion.
Taste and Color
Beyond industrial applications, waxes make the food we eat and the supplements or pharmaceuticals we take look good and stay fresh safely. Wax coats fruit and vegetables to keep them fresh and maintain internal moisture. The glossy shine on candy coatings and the tablets we take are alike brought to bear by wax coatings. Colors are kept bright, and the contents remain safe from ruinous moisture. Because we are committed to safety, Koster Keunen provides testing and certification information so you know that the ingredients you employ are the quality that food applications require.
Koster Keunen is committed to producing the best in waxes for a wide variety of industry applications. Whether the wax your product lines require is our signature Beeswax or if your formulators are working to find the best fit, we are here to help with sustainability, and in keeping with the product specifications your brand demands.
About Koster Keunen
Koster Keunen has been working with wax since 1852 and has used our extensive experience and knowledge base to continuously develop new chemistries. Whether you are developing a new product, or need help with a reformulation or replacement, contact us to learn more about how we source, refine or develop waxes so you can create the perfect formula.
