DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to wax compositions. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a wax composition including at least one petroleum based component, at least one ethylene based polymeric component, and Fischer-Tropsch wax, said wax composition exhibiting superior physico-chemical properties. The improved wax composition of the present disclosure can find utility in production of tires, rubbers, adhesives, laminates, cosmetics, castings, and host of other applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Wax compositions are frequently used for writing or copying products such as crayons, candles, and carbon papers. Wax compositions are also used in color concentrates for addition to molded or extruded plastic articles. In many instances, these articles employ the wax compositions to form the structural shape as well as to serve the functional purpose of the product. Currently, these products are manufactured from a base wax composition consisting fundamentally of petroleum waxesviz. paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax.
[0004] A common characteristic of most petroleum waxes is that they are solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature and liquid at elevated temperatures. Since petroleum waxes lack the tensile strength and flexibility characteristics required for practical applications, elastomeric polymers in small amounts have been added to these waxes to improve their properties. Depending upon the application, various other additives are also incorporated in each particular product to obtain the specific properties desired, such as stearic acid and pigment or dyes for candle and crayon colors. The final product is required to be sufficiently strong and must possess suitable molding characteristics.
[0005] Microcrystalline waxes, due to their plasticity and other suitable characteristics including, in general, a relatively higher melting point, find extensive commercial use. Microcrystalline waxes have been utilized to advantage as adhesives or binding agents for laminating plies of various substances, usually paper, as in the preparation of field-ration packages and food wrappers and as grease- and water-proof coatings on meat and fruit, milk bottles, cardboard cartons and the like.
[0006] Because of adhesiveness and plasticity of microcrystalline waxes over fairly wide temperature ranges, they have been particularly used in the field of coating of paper and similar substances. Microcrystalline waxes, being used at relatively low temperatures as surface coatings and as laminating agents in the preparation of multiply paper, are not completely satisfactory because of their brittleness and lack of pliability. In general, however, they have been more satisfactory than paraffin waxes. In the packaging of foods which are frozen and stored at low temperatures, all types of waxes which have been utilized heretofore have proved to be unsatisfactory per-se. Resort has been made to the compounding of the most suitable type of waxes, namely, the microcrystalline waxes, with foreign materials to modify the insufficient flexibility at low temperatures such as -10oF. Frequently, the foreign materials have been found to be difficult to blend with the wax, or expensive, or otherwise unsatisfactory with respect to their properties.
[0007] In view of above stated shortcomings, there exists a need for an economic wax composition with improved physicochemical properties such as, drop melting point, viscosity and flow properties, which can be utilized in variety of practical applications.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Primary object of the present disclosure is to provide a wax composition with improved mechanical properties such as, drop melting point, viscosity, elasticity, and flow properties.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved wax composition that is inexpensive.
[00010] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved wax composition that is easy to process.
[00011] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved wax composition that can be utilized in a variety of practical applications.
[00012] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved wax composition that exhibits superior high temperature stability without exhibiting signs of incompatibility.
[00013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved wax composition that exhibits superior adhesive strength and flow properties.
[00014] Other objects of the present disclosure will be apparent from the description of the invention herein below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00015] The present disclosure generally relates to wax compositions. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a wax composition including at least one petroleum based component, at least one ethylene based polymeric component, and Fischer-Tropsch wax, said wax composition exhibiting superior physico-chemical properties. The improved wax composition of the present disclosure can find utility in production of tires, rubbers, adhesives, laminates, cosmetics, castings, and host of other applications.
[00016] The inventors of the present disclosure surprisingly found that when at least one ethylene based polymeric component selected from a group comprising HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and PE wax, and a Fischer Tropsch (FT) wax are incorporated in a defined weight percentage in at least one petroleum based component extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO), heavy vacuum gas oil (HVGO) and light vacuum gas oil (LVGO) and Unconverted oil (UCO), the resulting composition exhibits superior high temperature stability without exhibiting any signs of incompatibility while exhibiting superior adhesive strength and flow properties. The improved wax composition, realized in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, is suitable for a host of applications including in production of tires, rubbers, adhesives, laminates, cosmetics, castings, and the likes. Accordingly, the composition of the present disclosure can be conveniently utilized as a low cost alternative to conventional waxes or wax like substances, while maintaining or augmenting their desired properties, and alleviating, at least in part, the non-desired or less-desired characteristics thereof.
[00017] Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a wax composition including: at least one petroleum based component extracted from any or a combination of: medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO), heavy vacuum gas oil (HVGO), light vacuum gas oil (LVGO) and Unconverted oil (UCO);at least one ethylene based polymeric component selected from a group comprising HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and PE wax; and Fischer Tropsch wax, wherein said composition exhibits any or a combination of: (A) drop melting point ranging from 65°C to 95°C, and (B) needle penetration ranging from 5 to 35, when measured at 25°C, 5 seconds, 100 gram with 1/10 mm needle.
[00018] In an embodiment, said composition exhibits viscosity ranging from 10 cSt to 20 cSt, when measured at 98.9°C.In an embodiment, said composition comprises the at least one petroleum based component in an amount ranging from 80% to 98.5% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, said composition comprises the at least one ethylene based polymeric component in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 15% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, said composition comprises the at least one ethylene based polymeric component in an amount ranging from 1% to 10% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, said composition comprises Fischer Tropsch (FT) wax in an amount ranging from 0.25% to 8%by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, the at least one petroleum based component is extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO). In an embodiment, the at least one petroleum based component extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) is paraffin wax.
[00019] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of preparing a wax composition, said method including the steps of: effecting melt-mixing of at least one petroleum based component with at least one ethylene based polymeric component under stirring condition while maintaining temperature ranging from about 95°C to about 180°C to form a molten mixture; and effecting mixing of molten FT wax with said molten mixture under stirring condition for a pre-determined time period to form the wax composition, wherein said wax composition exhibits any or a combination of: (A) drop melting point ranging from 65°C to 95°C, and (B) needle penetration ranging from 5 to 35, when measured at 25°C, 5 seconds, 100 gram with 1/10 mm needle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00020] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more comprehensively with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of the ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[00021] Unless otherwise specified, all terms used in disclosing the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. By means of further guidance, term definitions may be included to better appreciate the teaching of the present invention.
[00022] As used in the description herein, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[00023] As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include”, “includes”, and “including” are meant to be non- limiting, i.e., other steps and other ingredients which do not affect the end of result can be added. The above terms encompass the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.
[00024] As used herein, the terms “composition” “blend,” or “mixture” are all intended to be used interchangeably.
[00025] The terms “weight percent,” “wt %,” “percent by weight,” “% by weight,” and variations thereof, as used herein, refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance divided by the total weight of the composition and multiplied by 100. It is understood that, as used here, “percent,” “%” and the like are intended to be synonymous with “weight percent,” “wt-%,” etc.
[00026] The term “wax” as used herein throughout the present disclosure represents wax or wax like substances, obtained for example, by vacuum distillation of hydrocarbons, with or without further treatment thereof.
[00027] The term “paraffin wax”, as used throughout the present disclosure, represents wax or wax like substance, generally extracted from MVGO, and which typically exhibits drop melting point of about 60°C to about 66°C, viscosity of about 3cSt to about 8 cSt, when measured at 98.9°Cand needle penetration of about 5 to 13, when measured at 25°C, 5 seconds, 100 gram with 1/10 mm needle.
[00028] The term “heavy vacuum gas oil” or “HVGO”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents vacuum gas oil fractions emanating from the distillation units, typically, at a boiling range of about 510°C to about 570°C.
[00029] The term “Medium vacuum gas oil” or “MVGO”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents vacuum gas oil fractions emanating from the distillation units, typically, at a boiling range of about 450°C to about 510°C.
[00030] The term “light vacuum gas oil” or “LVGO”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents vacuum gas oil fractions emanating from the distillation units, typically, at a boiling range of about 360°C to about 450°C.
[00031] The term “Unconverted oil” or “UCO”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents vacuum gas oil fractions emanating from bottom of hydrocracker unit at refineries.
[00032] The term “High Density Polyethylene” or “HDPE”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents polyethylene class of polymers, particularly, homo polymers made of repeating units of “ethylene” that, typically, exhibits density ranging from about 0.941 to about 0.965 g/cm3.
[00033] The term “Low Density Polyethylene” or “LDPE”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents polyethylene class of polymers, particularly, homopolymers made of repeating units of “ethylene” that, typically, exhibits density ranging from about 0.91 to about 0.94 g/cm3.
[00034] The term “Linear Low Density Polyethylene” or “LLDPE”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents polyethylene class of polymers, particularly, homopolymers made of repeating units of “ethylene” that is a substantially linear polymer with significant numbers of short branches and, which, typically, exhibits density ranging from about 0.91 to about 0.94 g/cm3.
[00035] The term “FT wax” or “Fischer Tropsch wax”, as used synonymously and interchangeably throughout the present disclosure, represents a class of synthetic wax, typically, produced by the polymerization of carbon monoxide under high pressure. The waxes so produced typically exhibits melting point ranging from about 45°C to about 125°C.
[00036] The present disclosure generally relates to wax compositions. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a wax composition including at least one petroleum based component, at least one ethylene based polymeric component, and Fischer-Tropsch wax, said wax composition exhibiting superior physico-chemical properties. The improved wax composition of the present disclosure can find utility in production of tires, rubbers, adhesives, laminates, cosmetics, castings, and host of other applications.
[00037] The inventors of the present disclosure surprisingly found that when at least one ethylene based polymeric component selected from a group comprising HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and PE wax, and a Fischer Tropsch (FT) wax are incorporated in a defined weight percentage in at least one petroleum based component extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO), heavy vacuum gas oil (HVGO) and light vacuum gas oil (LVGO) and Unconverted oil (UCO), the resulting composition exhibits superior high temperature stability without exhibiting any signs of incompatibility while exhibiting superior adhesive strength and flow properties. The improved wax composition, realized in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, is suitable for a host of applications including in production of tires, rubbers, adhesives, laminates, cosmetics, castings, and the likes. Accordingly, the composition of the present disclosure can be conveniently utilized as a low cost alternative to conventional waxes or wax like substances, while maintaining or augmenting their desired properties, and alleviating, at least in part, the non-desired or less-desired characteristics thereof.
[00038] Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure provides a wax composition including: at least one petroleum based component extracted from any or a combination of: medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO), heavy vacuum gas oil (HVGO), light vacuum gas oil (LVGO) and Unconverted oil (UCO); at least one ethylene based polymeric component selected from a group comprising HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and PE wax; and Fischer Tropsch wax, wherein said composition exhibits any or a combination of: (A) drop melting point ranging from 65°C to 95°C, and (B) needle penetration ranging from 5 to 35, when measured at 25°C, 5 seconds, 100 gram with 1/10 mm needle.
[00039] In an embodiment, said composition exhibits viscosity ranging from 10 cSt to 20 cSt, when measured at 98.9°C. In an embodiment, said composition comprises the at least one petroleum based component in an amount ranging from 80% to 98.5% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, said composition comprises the at least one ethylene based polymeric component in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 15% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, said composition comprises the at least one ethylene based polymeric component in an amount ranging from 1% to 10% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, said composition comprises Fischer Tropsch (FT) wax in an amount ranging from 0.25% to 8% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, the at least one petroleum based component is extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO). In an embodiment, the at least one petroleum based component extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) is paraffin wax.
[00040] It has been found that the quantity of each component used to modify the at least one petroleum based component is critical in order to arrive at the improved wax composition of the present invention. The quantity of at least one ethylene based polymeric component should range from 0.5 to 15 weight percent based on the weight of the finished composition, preferably from 1 to 10 weight percent. The quantity of Fischer-Tropsch wax should range from 0.25 to 8 weight percent based on the weight of the final composition, preferably from 0.5 to 4 weight percent. The weight percent of the at least one petroleum based component may range from 80 to 98.5 weight percent based on the weight of the final composition. In an embodiment, said at least one petroleum based component is paraffin wax. In an embodiment, said at least one ethylene based polymeric component is polyethylene (PE).
[00041] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of preparing a wax composition, said method including the steps of: effecting melt-mixing of at least one petroleum based component with at least one ethylene based polymeric component under stirring condition while maintaining temperature ranging from about 95°C to about 180°C to form a molten mixture; and effecting mixing of molten FT wax with said molten mixture under stirring condition for a pre-determined time period to form the wax composition, wherein said wax composition exhibits any or a combination of: (A) drop melting point ranging from 65°C to 95°C, and (B) needle penetration ranging from 5 to 35, when measured at 25°C, 5 seconds, 100 gram with 1/10 mm needle.
[00042] In an embodiment, the composition of the present disclosure can be prepared by first melting theat least one petroleum based component and then effecting addition of the at least one ethylene based polymeric component under stirring condition while maintaining the temperature ranging from about 95°C to about 180°C. Optionally, the mixture obtained there from may be stirred for a time period of about 3 to 6 hours to prepare a uniform melt. Melt of FT wax may be prepared separately and maintained at a temperature ranging from about 130°C to about 180°C, followed by mixing thereof with the uniform melt including the at least one petroleum based component and the at least one ethylene based polymeric component under stirring conditions for a period ranging from about 2 hour to 4 hours. Care should be taken to avoid vigorous heating conditions to preclude any deformation products resulting there from. Care should also be taken to preclude formation and entrapment of air bubbles in the final composition.
[00043] The wax composition of the present disclosure may be utilized for a variety of practical applications. In an embodiment, the wax composition is utilized for coating paperboard.
[00044] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
[00045] Example 1
[00046] Paraffin wax obtained from MVGO was mixed with wax obtained from UCO in 50:50 ratio by weight. 3% (wt %) LDPE and 1% (wt %) FT wax was then added in the mixed wax at 140oC, and stirred thoroughly for about 6 hours. Properties of UCO wax, Paraffin wax and the resultant wax composition 1 are provided in the Table 1 below.
Table 1: Properties of initial wax and resultant wax composition
Properties Paraffin wax UCO wax Wax Composition 1 Testing Method
Drop Melting Point 62-66 52-56 69 IS 13833: 1993, Annex A
Penetration 8-12 35-45 27 IS 1448: P 93
Kinematic viscosity (cSt) 3-5 2-4 16.5 IS 1448: P 25

[00047] Example 2
[00048] Paraffin wax obtained from MVGO was mixed with wax obtained from UCO in ratio 50:50 by weight. 3% (wt %) PE wax and 2% (wt %) FT wax were added in the mixed wax at 150oC and stirred thoroughly for about 6 hours. Properties of UCO wax, Paraffin wax and the resultant wax composition 2 are provided in the Table 2 below.
Table 2: Properties of initial wax and resultant wax composition
Properties Paraffin wax UCO wax Wax Composition 2 Testing Method
Drop Melting Point 62-66 52-56 78 IS 13833: 1993, Annex A
Penetration 8-12 35-45 26 IS 1448: P 93
Kinematic viscosity (cSt) 3-5 2-4 17.1 IS 1448: P 25

[00049] Example 3
[00050] Paraffin wax obtained from MVGO was mixed with wax obtained from UCO in ratio 50:50 by weight. 4 % (wt %) LDPE and 2% (wt %) FT wax were added in the mixed wax at 170oC and stirred thoroughly for about 6 hours. Properties of UCO wax, Paraffin wax and the resultant wax composition 3 are provided in the Table 3 below.
Table 3: Properties of initial wax and resultant wax composition
Properties Paraffin wax UCO wax Wax Composition 3 Testing Method
Drop Melting Point 62-66 52-56 76 IS 13833: 1993, Annex A
Penetration 8-12 35-45 24 IS 1448: P 93
Kinematic viscosity (cSt) 3-5 2-4 21.2 IS 1448: P 25

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[00051] The present disclosure provides for a wax composition with improved physico-chemical properties such as drop melting point, viscosity, penetration and flow properties.
[00052] The present disclosure provides for an improved wax composition that is inexpensive.
[00053] The present disclosure provides for an improved wax composition that is easy to process.
[00054] The present disclosure provides for an improved wax composition that can be utilized in a variety of practical applications.
[00055] The present disclosure provides for an improved wax composition that exhibits superior high temperature stability without exhibiting signs of incompatibility.
[00056] The present disclosure provides for an improved wax composition that exhibits superior adhesive strength and flow properties.
,CLAIMS:1. A wax composition, said wax composition comprising:
at least one petroleum based component extracted from any or a combination of: medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO), heavy vacuum gas oil (HVGO), light vacuum gas oil (LVGO) and Unconverted oil (UCO);
at least one ethylene based polymeric component selected from a group comprising HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and PE wax; and
a Fischer Tropsch wax,
wherein said wax composition exhibits any or a combination of: (A) drop melting point ranging from 65°C to 95°C, and (B) needle penetration ranging from 5 to 35, when measured at 25°C, 5 seconds, 100 gram with 1/10 mm needle.
2. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wax composition exhibits viscosity ranging from 10 cSt to 20 cSt, when measured at 98.9°C.
3. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wax composition comprises the at least one petroleum based component in an amount ranging from 80% to 98.5% by weight of the composition.
4. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wax composition comprises the at least one ethylene based polymeric component in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 15% by weight of the composition.
5. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wax composition comprises the at least one ethylene based polymeric component in an amount ranging from 1% to 10% by weight of the composition.
6. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wax composition comprises Fischer Tropsch (FT) wax in an amount ranging from 0.25% to 8% by weight of the composition.
7. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one petroleum based component is extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO), and wherein the at least one petroleum based component extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) is paraffin wax.
8. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one petroleum based component comprises a mixture of paraffin wax extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO)and a wax obtained from Unconverted oil (UCO).
9. The wax composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mixture comprises the paraffin wax extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) and the wax obtained from Unconverted oil (UCO) in a weight ratio ranging from 30:70 to 70:30.
10. The wax composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mixture comprises the paraffin wax extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) and the wax obtained from Unconverted oil (UCO) in a weight ratio of 50:50.
11. The wax composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wax composition comprises:
A mixture comprising the paraffin wax extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) and the wax obtained from Unconverted oil (UCO) in a weight ratio ranging from 30:70 to 70:30,said mixture being present in the wax composition in an amount ranging from 90% to 97% by weight of the composition;
at least one ethylene based polymeric component selected from any or a combination of HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE and PE wax in an amount ranging from 1% to 5% by weight of the composition; and
a Fischer Tropsch (FT) wax in an amount ranging from 0.5% to 5% by weight of the composition.
12. A method of preparing a wax composition, said method comprising the steps of:
effecting melt-mixing of at least one petroleum based component with at least one ethylene based polymeric component under stirring condition while maintaining temperature ranging from 95°C to 180°C to form a molten mixture; and
effecting mixing of molten FT wax with said molten mixture under stirring condition for a pre-determined time period to form the wax composition,
wherein said wax composition exhibits any or a combination of: (A) drop melting point ranging from 65°C to 95°C, and (B) needle penetration ranging from 5 to 35, when measured at 25°C, 5 seconds, 100 gram with 1/10 mm needle.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said wax composition exhibits viscosity ranging from 10 cSt to 20 cSt, when measured at 98.9°C.
14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one petroleum based component is extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO), and wherein the at least one petroleum based component extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) is paraffin wax.
15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one petroleum based component comprises a mixture of paraffin wax extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) and a wax obtained from Unconverted oil (UCO).
16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said mixture comprises the paraffin wax extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) and the wax obtained from Unconverted oil (UCO) in a weight ratio ranging from 30:70 to 70:30.
17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said mixture comprises the paraffin wax extracted from medium vacuum gas oil (MVGO) and the wax obtained from Unconverted oil (UCO) in a weight ratio of 50:50.