Natural fibers contain wax-like substances as a protective agent against atmospheric and biological influences. The removal of these substances during processing alters the frictional and absorbency characteristics of the fibers, resulting in a loss of softness, pliability and elasticity, making it necessary to re-apply a suitable finish. A suitable finish is also necessary to lubricate synthetic fibers for high speed processing.

Wax performance in textiles

In a number of processing steps in the textile industry, waxes and their emulsions (dispersions) are used either directly, or as important components of textile auxiliary chemicals. These waxes improve the ease of textile processing, as well as the finish and performance of the final fabric or garment.

Waxes reduce fiber-to-fiber friction and fiber-to-metal friction in fast moving machines, resulting in fewer processing problems and optimised production outputs. Waxes can be applied to textiles in solid form, as a melt or as a wax emulsion.

Sasol Wax offers a range of paraffin waxes, specialised oxidised and saponified Fischer-Tropsch waxes, as well as emulsions of these waxes to the textile industry.