Composite Matting
Hybrid additive particles combining inorganic silica cores with polyethylene wax coatings provide simultaneous gloss reduction and surface scratch protection in aqueous and energy-cured coatings. Formulations containing PE wax modified silica integrate matting efficiency with scuff resistance in overprint varnishes applied to folding packaging. The silica component scatters incident light to reduce gloss, while the polyethylene wax layer lowers surface friction and improves scuff resistance.
Particle Physics
Precipitation or thermal treatment coats micronized synthetic silica particles with thin layers of polyethylene wax. During coating application and curing, PE wax modified silica particles orient toward the top surface of the drying coating film due to surface tension gradients. The soft wax shell acts as a physical cushion that absorbs mechanical shear forces from adjacent folding cartons, preventing hard silica cores from scratching neighboring printed surfaces.
This dual functionality allows coating formulators to achieve deep matte finishes without sacrificing rub resistance or inducing metal marking during high-speed converting. Proper particle size distribution maintains low gloss without causing settling issues in liquid ink pans.
Coating Resilience
Untreated silica particles often cause abrasive wear on printed board surfaces during shipping vibration. Coating silica with polyethylene wax prevents surface scratching while maintaining consistent specular gloss control.
