Renewable Montan Waxes Push Sustainability in Auto, Electronics, Medical Device Sectors

Non-edible rice bran touted as an alternative sustainable raw material in place of lignite for these engineering plastics lubricants and nucleators.

Montan waxes, extracted from lignite, are a key additive input for engineering plastic compounds widely used in the automotive, electronics, and medical device industries and much more. They function as lubricants and nucleators in the processing of engineering plastics.

With lignite being resources being rapidly depleted in in Germany where much montan wax originates, the geological reality means that even without environmental regulations, this coal type is expected to become harder to get at the right quality and quantity and one day may become simply unavailable. Beyond resource depletion, lignite processing is a strong greenhouse gas emission contributor, accelerating global warming and disrupting ecosystems, while open-cast mining could lead to deforestation and biodiversity disruption.

Rice bran raw material

The impact is already visible. In the few years, the market has already experienced montan wax supply issues due to a decline in availability, steadily driving price increases, causing inventory challenges, planning complexity and higher production costs. In addition, increasing regulatory pressure on fossil-based materials and growing demand for sustainable alternatives are accelerating the shift toward low-carbon options like rice bran wax. Leading montan wax supplier Clariant is actively pursuing sustainable routes to its synthesis based on this non-edible rice bran

Renewable alternatives

Clariant's Licocare RBW Vita portfolio, derived from renewable rice bran wax, offers not just a more sustainable alternative to fossil-based montan wax with a 98% renewable carbon index and a significantly lower carbon footprint, but also a strategic advantage through long-term availability being based on the non-edible fraction of a renewable crop.

"The current and future montan wax supply challenge presents the market with a short-term challenge as well as a long-term strategic opportunity," says Diederik Goyvaerts, Market Manager, Additives. "Increasing supply concerns are already encouraging companies to switch to Licocare RBW Vita products as valid sustainable alternatives. In addition, the steady progress related to the broadening food contact compliance will certainly accelerate this switch.”

Diederik Goyvaerts, Market Manager, Additives. Image: Clariant

Spotlight on saponified grades

Both Licocare RBW 360 Vita and RBW 560 Vita are saponified rice bran waxes, providing dual benefits of lubrication and nucleation in engineering plastics. They are typically used in injection molding applications, combining excellent nucleating and lubricating effects in a single additive according to Diederik Goyvaerts, Market Manager Additives at Clariant. “Licocare RBW 360 Vita is recommended for use in polyamide, while RBW 560 Vita is recommended for polyester applications. In PA 6.6 applications, as an example, we have seen cooling cycle reductions of up to 70%, which translates to significantly improved production efficiency and faster throughput,” he notes.

Performance at low dosages

Further, Licocare RBW 360 Vita and 560 Vita, exhibit excellent thermal stability at high processing temperatures. They work effectively at low dosages, create smooth surfaces and improve dimensional stability of the finished articles, while maintaining mechanical properties. They provide outstanding internal and external lubrication characteristics in polymer processing, improving melt flow and reducing friction between the polymer melt and hot metallic surfaces. This enables easier processing and smooth surface quality of the processed articles.

As nucleation agents, Licocare RBW 360 Vita and RBW 560 Vita deliver excellent nucleation effects enhancing crystallization speeds. This enables faster cycle times and improved mechanical properties in semi-crystalline polymers.

Further, as dispersing agents, rice bran wax-based additives function as excellent organic pigment dispersants, improving color consistency and processability while reducing dispersion time in compounding operations. Their favorable chemical structure provides high thermal stability and low volatility.

And importantly, with the typical 0.1-0.5% use levels in most applications, they contribute to a favorable and competitive cost-in-use versus fossil-based alternatives.

Beyond the specialized RBW 360 Vita and RBW 560 Vita grades, the Licocare RBW Vita portfolio offers sustainable alternatives for a broad range of polymers including polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, PVC, TPU, and various engineering plastics. All grades are derived from bio-based, renewable, non-food competing feedstock, addressing supply challenges with traditional montan wax while significantly lowering Scope 3 emissions for customers.