Thickening Agent for Resin Systems
Manalox 318 is an oxoaluminum acylate with an aromatic character designed to provide both high viscosity and high yield stress value properties in lithographic printing ink vehicles.
It develops the viscosity within about 30 – 45 minutes at 170-175 °C, but does not react as quickly in the initial stages as does OAO, and therefore it has less of a tendency to produce “seeds” in the varnish. The level of use varies according to the particular varnish formula and type of gell structure desired, but generally falls between 1.0 and 2.5%. Manalox 318 should be evaluated as potential replacement for either Arrow Gell or OAO. One of the expected advantages of replacing OAO with Manalox 318 would be lower water pickup properties in the subsequent ink.
