Everything a formulator needs to know about low-molecular-weight polyethylene wax at Mn ≈ 1000 — what the "precisely fractionated" route changes, where it beats cracked wax, which international grade it corresponds to, and how much to add in each application.
PE WaxMn 1000Masterbatch Rigid PVCPowder CoatingCable Compound Hot Melt AdhesiveHY-1000
Polyethylene waxes span roughly Mn 1000 to 10000, and the number is not cosmetic — it sets the three properties that decide where the wax can be used:
Most PE wax on the market is made by thermal cracking of polyethylene, which produces a broad molecular-weight distribution with a tail of very light oligomers. HY-1000 is a precisely fractionated low-molecular-weight polyethylene oligomer: the cut is narrow.
Three practical consequences, in order of commercial value:
Locating a wax in the global grade table is the fastest way to start a technical conversation. The Mn 1000 + high-hardness + low-branching combination occupies a narrow slot:
| Manufacturer | Grade | Type | Density | Melting / drop point | Hardness | Visc. @140 °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heyee Chem | HY-1000 | Precisely fractionated PE oligomer | n/d | ≥ 110 °C (drop) | < 3 dmm @25°C | > 10 cP @149°C |
| Mitsui Chemicals | Hi-WAX 100P / HP10A | High-density homopolymer | 0.950 | 116 °C (m.p.) / 121 °C (s.p.) | Pen. 2 | 15 mPa·s |
| Mitsui Chemicals | Hi-WAX 110P (contrast) | Low-density type | 0.920 | 109 °C (m.p.) / 113 °C (s.p.) | Pen. 25 | 20 mPa·s |
| Honeywell | A-C 9 / 9A | PE homopolymer | 0.93 | 115 °C (drop) | 0.5 dmm | 450 cps |
| Honeywell | A-C 8 / 8A | PE homopolymer | 0.93 | 113 °C (drop) | 1.0 dmm | 450 cps |
| Honeywell | A-C 617 / 617A (contrast) | LDPE homopolymer | 0.91 | 101 °C (drop) | 7.0 dmm | 180 cps |
The 110P and 617 rows are shown as contrast, not as targets: at the same Mn ≈ 1000, a high-density low-branching grade is an order of magnitude harder than a low-density grade. If a formulation calls for hardness, matching the molecular weight alone is not enough.
Competitor data is quoted from published TDS for identification and comparison purposes only, and is subject to change. Always verify against the manufacturer's current documentation and your own testing.
Fourteen application areas, ordered by how quickly a supplier can realistically convert them. Dosage figures are typical starting points for formulation work.
| Application | What the wax does | Typical dosage | Why HY-1000 fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour & filler masterbatch | Pigment / filler dispersant; raises pigment loading, lowers filter pressure | Pigment: 5–10% Filler: 2–5% | Low melt viscosity wets pigment agglomerates fast; narrow cut keeps colour strength stable lot to lot |
| Powder coatings | Degassing agent, anti-scratch, matting, texture, hardness | 0.5–1.5% | High whiteness is decisive for metallic-bonded and light-colour powders |
| Cable compounds (silane-crosslinkable PE, LSZH) | External lubricant; reduces torque, prevents scorch, raises extrusion rate | 0.5–2% | Low viscosity and high softening point lower torque without sacrificing heat resistance |
| WPC & PVC foam board | Lubrication and dispersion in highly filled systems | 1–2 phr | Highest dosage of any PVC segment; fastest formulation validation |
| Rigid PVC (pipe, profile, fitting) | External lubricant; metal release, gloss, output rate | 0.5–1 phr | Replaces imported oxidised PE wax / premium synthetic wax at lower cost |
| Polishes, car care, candles | Hardness, gloss, scuff resistance, burn-time extension | 1–5% | High hardness gives durable gloss; high whiteness suits white/light candles |
| Engineering plastics (PA, PC, ABS, PBT, PP) | Internal/external lubricant, mould release, glass-fibre dispersion | 0.2–1% | High softening point survives engineering-plastic processing temperatures |
| Printing inks & OPV | Rub resistance, slip, anti-blocking, matting | 0.5–3% | Requires micronised grade, D50 4–8 µm |
| Hot-melt adhesives (EVA, APAO) | Viscosity reduction, open-time control, heat resistance | 10–30% | Softening point 105–115 °C cuts viscosity without collapsing heat resistance — the key advantage over paraffin |
| PUR hot-melt adhesives | Viscosity reduction, open-time adjustment | 1–3% | Moisture-cure system: wax loading must stay low, used only as a rheology modifier |
| Wood & industrial coatings | Anti-blocking, slip, burnish resistance | 0.5–2% | Suited to solvent-borne and UV; water-borne needs the oxidised grade |
| Investment casting wax | Raises softening point and hardness, reduces shrinkage | 10–25% of the wax blend | High crystallinity gives dimensional stability of the pattern |
| Rubber processing | Mould release, filler dispersion, anti-ozone protection | 2–6 phr | Low branching means slow migration — durable protection, but blend with a lower-MW component to avoid blooming |
| Asphalt & waterproofing membrane | Raises softening point, anti-rutting; warm-mix additive | 0.5–3% | Improves high-temperature performance; must be balanced against low-temperature ductility |
| Form | Typical D50 | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Prill / flake | — | PVC, WPC, rubber, asphalt, investment casting, masterbatch |
| Micronised powder — fine | 5–8 µm | Printing inks, coatings, powder coatings |
| Micronised powder — standard | 15–25 µm | Masterbatch, engineering plastics, rubber chemicals |
Packed in 25 kg bags or 1000 kg jumbo bags. FOB Qingdao; samples with COA and MSDS ship within 1–3 days.
HY-1000 is supplied as prill, flake or micronized powder (D50 5–8 µm / 15–25 µm) in 25 kg bags or 1000 kg jumbo bags, FOB Qingdao.
Samples ship within 1–3 days with COA & MSDS. Contact brianwang@heyeechem.com or WhatsApp +86-159-4288-5699.
Polyethylene wax (PE wax) is used as a pigment dispersant in colour and filler masterbatch, an external lubricant in rigid PVC and WPC, a degassing and anti-scratch additive in powder coatings, a rub-resistance and slip agent in printing inks and coatings, a viscosity modifier and heat-resistance booster in hot-melt adhesives, a processing aid in cable compounds, and a hardening agent in polishes and candles.
For a high-density, low-branching grade the melting point is typically around 110–118 °C with a softening point several degrees higher. Mitsui's Hi-WAX 100P (Mw 900, high-density type) is published at 116 °C melting / 121 °C softening. A low-density grade of the same molecular weight melts about 7 °C lower, so density and branching must be specified alongside molecular weight.
Oxidised PE wax (OPE) is produced by oxidising PE wax to introduce carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, giving an acid value typically of 15–25 mg KOH/g. The polar groups make it compatible with PVC and water-based systems and allow it to be emulsified. Unoxidised PE wax such as HY-1000 has no acid value: it is harder and more heat-resistant, but non-polar, non-emulsifiable and suitable only as an external lubricant. See our detailed comparison in PE Wax vs Oxidised PE Wax.
Not in its unoxidised form. Emulsification requires polar functional groups, which means an oxidised PE wax with an acid value of roughly 15–25. Unoxidised PE wax such as HY-1000 is used in solvent-borne, UV and hot-melt systems; for water-based formulations specify an oxidised grade.
No. Fischer-Tropsch wax is built from synthesis gas (CO + H₂) and consists mainly of linear alkanes; PE wax is a low-molecular-weight polyethylene made by polymerisation or obtained as a fractionated oligomer. FT wax typically has a narrower distribution and higher linearity; PE wax offers higher hardness at a given molecular weight and lower cost. Honeywell notes in the A-C 617 data sheet that its LDPE homopolymer "can also be partially substituted for FT wax in adhesive applications", which is why the two compete directly in hot-melt adhesives.
Heyee HY-1000 is positioned as a drop-in candidate for Hi-WAX 100P / HP10A in the Mn ≈ 1000 high-density slot, with comparable hardness and melt viscosity. See the grade-by-grade comparison and substitution checklist. Always validate with your own DSC, penetration and melt-viscosity testing before switching production.
Mn 1000–3000 is the usual working range. Low melt viscosity is what allows the wax to wet pigment agglomerates and penetrate their pores under shear. In practice Mn ≈ 1000 gives the fastest wetting; higher-molecular grades (Mn 4000–8000) are chosen when the wax must also carry very high inorganic pigment loadings of up to 75%.
Typically 0.5–1 phr as an external lubricant for pipe, profile and fittings. Highly filled systems such as WPC and PVC foam board run higher, at 1–2 phr. Because unoxidised PE wax has limited compatibility with PVC, exceeding the recommended level risks plate-out and blooming.
Polyethylene wax is covered by FDA 21 CFR 178.3710 for use in food-contact applications, subject to the specific limitations in that regulation, and by EU frameworks for plastics intended for food contact. Compliance depends on the individual grade and its documentation, so request the current food-contact statement and REACH status for the grade you are buying.
At identical molecular weight the difference is dramatic. Mitsui publishes Hi-WAX 100P (high-density, Mw 900) at density 0.950, crystallinity 90% and penetration 2, versus Hi-WAX 110P (low-density, Mw 1000) at density 0.920, crystallinity 80% and penetration 25. High-density grades are harder, have higher melting and softening points and give better abrasion resistance; low-density grades are softer and more flexible.
Partially, and it is common practice. In EVA and APAO hot melts, PE wax reduces viscosity while its 105–115 °C softening point helps retain heat resistance, which paraffin cannot do. Complete replacement is unusual because PE wax is more brittle than FT wax and reduces flexibility, so most formulations use a blend rather than a straight swap.
