PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF OXIDIZED SOLID POLYETHYLENE WAX AND THE WAX THUS OBTAINED

摘要

A non-oxidised polyethylene wax having a molecular weight of from 700 to 1500 and containing 6 to 12 unsaturated double bonds per 1000 carbon atoms is oxidised in the liquid phase at a temperature of from 140 to 160 DEG C. The catalyst used is boric acid in an amount of from 0.3 to 1.2% by weight, based on the non-oxidised polyethylene wax. The process is also carried out in the presence of an organic salt of a metal of variable valence from the group consisting of stearates, oleates and naphthenates of manganese, iron, cobalt, lead, molybdenum and bismuth as cocatalyst. The weight ratio between the organic salt and the boric acid is from 1:5 to 1:100. The wax prepared can be used in the textiles industry in agents for finishing fabrics, in domestic chemistry for the preparation of surface care materials, in the pulp and paper industry in agents for paper sizing, and in the production of untreated paper for photographic paper.