Patent ID: 8853284

Claim:
A method of producing an aqueous wax dispersion comprising: a) combining at least one particulate wax comprising a plurality of wax particles having an average particle size of greater than about 6 μm, with water and with at least one dispersing agent to form a mixture; and b) subjecting the mixture to conditions sufficient to disperse the wax particles in the water and to coat the surfaces of at least some of the wax particles with the dispersing agent; and to reduce the size of the wax particles such that the average wax particle size is from about 0.1 μm to about 6 μm and such that substantially all of the wax particles have a particle size of about 20 μm or less; and thereby producing an aqueous wax dispersion wherein the particulate wax comprises from about 5% to about 45% by weight of the dispersion; wherein the dispersing agent comprises from greater than 0% to about 5% by weight based on the weight of the particulate wax; and wherein the dispersion has a viscosity of about 100 cps or less at about 25° C. at a wax concentration of about 10% by weight of the dispersion, and a viscosity of about 200 cps or less at about 25° C. at a wax concentration of about 45% by weight of the dispersion, wherein the mixture is continuously maintained at a temperature or temperatures that are below about 50° C.