Apiezon Wax W100

What are the Apiezon Wax W range of waxes?
The Apiezon Wax W range of waxes features three products including the popular Apiezon Wax W, also known as ‘Black Wax’.
All three waxes in the Apiezon range can be used as permanent or semi-permanent vacuum sealants or mounting media. Apiezon Wax W is also a perfect etch resist.

What are the properties of Apiezon Wax W?
Versatile products suitable for a multitude of uses
Etch resist (Wax W only)
First-rate vapour pressure characteristics
High purity combined with powerful ‘gettering’ & clean meltdown properties
Excellent waterproof media
Easy to use and to remove
10 year shelf life
Apiezon Wax W40 is the softest wax of the range
Apiezon Wax W100 is a medium hardness wax
Apiezon Wax W is the hardest wax of the range
Available to buy in 250g, 500g, and 1kg blocks.

When should I use Apiezon Wax W waxes?
Apiezon Wax W is the first choice wax for most situations, offering efficient joint sealing over the widest temperature range, the most resistance to attack by acids and alkalis, the lowest vapour pressures, the most resistance to water and, for such a versatile wax, surprisingly the lowest cost when presented in the 1kg block.

Wax W is also available in stick form offering fast and convenient application. A single stick can simply be heated at the site of application with a small blow torch or Bunsen burner.

The Apiezon range offers the choice of three waxes with differing properties depending on the specific requirements of the job in hand. In addition to Wax W, two other formulations are available.

Apiezon Wax W100 is a medium hardness vacuum sealing and mounting wax. It is inherently softer than Wax W, thus reducing the risk of cracking glass joints if they are subject to vibration.

Apiezon Wax W40 is the softest of all the Apiezon waxes. With a softening point of just 40 to 50°C, it can be prepared for use in hot water for application to heat sensitive joints.

To find out more about the range of Apiezon waxes or the Apiezon family of silicone-free high vacuum greases manufactured by M&I Materials Ltd, contact our team of experts available via our helpline and online.

Apiezon Wax W100 Softer Hard Vacuum Sealing, Softening Point 55°C, 5×10-9 Torr at 20°C, Wax, 250g

Apiezon waxes are versatile products offering a multitude of uses. The key features of Apiezon waxes are: Jointing media, “Gettering” qualities, Etch fluid resistant, Mounting media, and Low to medium vacuum range. An Apiezon wax being a solid at ambient temperatures is ideal for use where a rigid permanent or semi-permanent sealed joint is required. Apiezon waxes are equally effective at maintaining seals in vacuum systems down to 10-9 torr at 20°C (dependent on the wax) and in systems at small positive pressures. They are excellent waterproof mediums providing a total seal against liquid water and offer superior sealing against water vapour and atmospheric moisture. The excellent vapour pressure characteristics, as shown in the graph opposite, are extremely important for a variety of applications, including thin film deposition as volatiles will not jeopardise the vacuum within the system or contaminate thin film deposits. Like the greases, Apiezon waxes have powerful “gettering” qualities. This “gettering” power coupled with high purity and very “clean” meltdown properties of the waxes has led to their extensive use in the electronics industry, where scrupulous cleanliness of metal surfaces is required. Apiezon waxes are used in the manufacture of silicon transistors and integrated circuits. They are chemically inert, being resistant to etching fluids such as hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid and acetic acid, but are easily removed with hydrocarbon or chlorinated solvents. Many impurities which may have remained on the surface if a solvent were used in isolation are also removed with the wax. Apiezon waxes are extensively used as protective coatings for printed circuits, ensuring complete protection for the copper circuit from acid etching processes and air oxidation, while enabling direct soldering through the wax. Apiezon waxes are excellent mounting media and are used extensively as both temporary and permanent adhesives for the mounting of silicon chips. To use as a mounting medium, either melt the wax and apply neat to the surface, or dissolve in a hydrocarbon or chlorinated solvent prior to use. Evaporation of the solvent will leave a thin layer of wax with excellent adhesive properties. To ensure an adhesive layer of consistent thickness across its surface rapidly rotate the chip and a superior mounting surface will be created.

How to use
Apply pre-melted wax to the required area using a glass rod, spatula or other such implement, taking care not to exceed a temperature of 60°C above the softening point of the wax shown above. To remove the wax after use heat to soften and scrape away. Any deposits can then be washed with an organic solvent or removed using a vapour degreasing bath.

Wax W100 is inherently softer than Wax W, thus reducing the risk of cracking glass joints if they are subject to vibration. Wax W40 is the softest of all the Apiezon waxes. With a melting point of 45°C, it can be prepared for use in hot water for application to heat sensitive joints.

Apiezon waxes are versatile products offering a multitude of uses. Apiezon waxes are solid at ambient temperatures and are ideal for use where a rigid permanent or semi-permanent sealed joint is required. Apiezon waxes are equally effective at maintaining seals in vacuum systems down to 10-9 torr at 20 degrees Celsius (dependent on the wax) and in systems at small positive pressures. They are excellent waterproof mediums providing a total seal against liquid water and offer superior sealing against water vapor and atmospheric moisture. The excellent vapor pressure characteristics are extremely important for a variety of applications, including thin film deposition. Volatiles will not jeopardize the vacuum within the system or contaminate thin film deposits. Features: Versatile products suitable for a multitude of uses First-rate vapor pressure characteristics High purity combined with powerful ‘gettering’ and clean meltdown properties Excellent waterproof media Easy to use and to remove 10 year shelf life

New Apiezon W100 Wax Medium Hardness Vacuum Sealant / Mounting Wax, 250 g Tin
Features:
Working temperature range: -10 to 45 degrees Celsius
Vapor Pressure at 20 degrees Celsius: 4.5 x 10-9 Torr
Temp for application: 110 degrees Celsius
Approximate softening point: 50 to 60 degrees Celsius

Apiezon W100 Wax Medium Hardness Vacuum Sealant / Mounting Wax, 250 g Tin

Apiezon W100 waxes are versatile products offering a multitude of uses.

Apiezon waxes are solid at ambient temperatures and are ideal for use where a rigid permanent or semi-permanent sealed joint is required. Apiezon W100 waxes are equally effective at maintaining seals in vacuum systems down to 10-9 torr at 20 degrees Celsius (dependent on the wax) and in systems at small positive pressures. They are excellent waterproof mediums providing a total seal against liquid water and offer superior sealing against water vapor and atmospheric moisture.

The excellent vapor pressure characteristics are extremely important for a variety of applications, including thin film deposition. Volatiles will not jeopardize the vacuum within the system or contaminate thin film deposits.

Apiezon W100 Wax Features:

Versatile products suitable for a multitude of uses
First-rate vapor pressure characteristics
High purity combined with powerful ‘gettering’ and clean meltdown properties
W100 Wax offers Excellent waterproof media
Easy to use and to remove
10 year shelf life

Apiezon® W100 is a versatile, chemically inert wax compound that is solid at ambient temperatures, and is used for rigid permanent or semi-permanent joint sealing. Apiezon® W100 wax has “gettering” qualities, like their greases, coupled with high purity and clean meltdown properties allow this wax to absorb greasy or chemical impurities on metal/glass surfaces. Apiezon® W100 wax is used in the manufacturing of silicon transistors and integrated circuits due to its resistance to etching fluids (hydrofluoric, nitric, and acetic acids). Apiezon® W100 wax is also used as a protective coating for printed circuits to ensure protection of the copper circuit from acid etching processes and air oxidation. Apiezon® W100 wax also serves as an excellent mounting media for permanent and temporary adhesives for silicon chips. The wax can be dissolved in a hydrocarbon or chlorinated solvent (or melt and apply directly), applied, and a thin film of wax forms after the solvent evaporates.

Features
Jointing and mounting media
Etch fluid resistant
Similar to Apiezon® W wax, but is softer and reduces risk of cracking joints
Reduces vibration in equipment

Apiezon Wax W100 can be used either as a vacuum sealing compound or as a mounting wax. For work with high vacuum and UHV, it would be better to use Vacseal® Vacuum Leak Sealant.

There are a series of three different Apiezon Wax products, differing in their “hardness”. Be sure to be familiar with the differences in the characteristics of the different waxes.

The hardness of W100 is described as being intermediate between W and W40.

250 gram can

Additional information

Brand

Apiezon

Apiezon is a range of high vacuum greases, vacuum sealants and lubricants that are favored around the world because of their quality, consistency and excellent performance in vacuum applications.

Apiezon Wax W W40 W100 DataSheet

Apiezon Wax W100 – MSDS