[Marik]

Hello everyone,

Basically, I have a bit of a problem. I'm working on a project and have to develop an edible ink. The ink base is butter and wax (it's a hot melt - it gets heated and is applied as a liquid). The thing is, this mix has a surface tension that's a bit too high for the application. I've done plenty of research on the matter, but didn't come across anything that would help me lower the surface tension of an oil (with air).
emulsifiers and surfactants can help reduce the surface tension of water in contact with either oil or air. A thin layer of oil on the surface of water can also help reduce the surface tension, but I didn't find any way to reduce the surface tension of water in contact with air.
Thanks in advance

Yan

[P]

will a very small amount of alcohol do it? It will certainly reduce the viscosity and may effect the surface tension too - I don't know.

[Enthalpy]

Can you act on the solids too? If your worry is that the oil should wet a solid but doesn't, some surface treatment of the solids can help as well.

[P]

Sounds like a good idea Enthalpy - you'll be getting fat on the snacks I keep feeding you. ;-)

Enthalpy - do you think some alcohol in the mix with the wax would help? I know they mix some solvents in with waxes to make polishes and stuff..  I was wondering if it would help the system wet better?