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1998583 
Journal Article 
Paraffin Wax Emulsion as Water Repellent for Cotton/Polyester Blended Fabric 
Abo-Shosha, MH; El-Hilw, ZH; Aly, AA; Amr, A; Nagdy, AlSIEl 
2008 
Yes 
Journal of Industrial Textiles
ISSN: 1528-0837 
37 
4 
315-325 
WOS:000263617000002 
Paraffin wax emulsion is prepared by emulsifying paraffin
wax (PW) in water using stearic acid (SA) and triethanolamine (TEA) emulsifying system. A mother
emulsion is prepared at different concentrations of PW (10.5-19.1% w/w) and SA (4.5-13% w/w)
neutralized to different extents by TEA (25-100% degree of neutralization). Upon treating 50/50
cotton/polyester fabric with a padding solution containing 50 g/L of different mother emulsions,
its water repellency does not exceed the value of 50. Aluminum chloride proves to be the best
deactivating agent of the hydrophilicity of the emulsifying agent among other salts including
barium chloride, zinc sulfate, and aluminum sulfate. Optimum emulsion ingredients are found to be
PW (10.5% w/w), SA (4.5% w/w), TEA (2.4% w/w, to attain full neutralization of SA), and SA/AlCl
(3) molar ratio (1/1). Treating the fabric with the deactivated emulsion results in enhancing its
water repellency rating (up to 80), decreasing its surface roughness, and increasing its
stiffness. A scanning electron micrograph of the treated fabric shows the deposition of the
emulsified wax on the fabric surface. Treating the fabric with the emulsion in the presence of a
fluorochemical finish, namely Nuva FB of Clariant, proves that the first can be used as an
extender for the second. Raising the drying temperature to 160 degrees C gives rise to a water-
repellency rating of 100. 
paraffin wax emulsion; stearic acid; water repellent; hydrophilicity deactivating agents; extender