A practical guide to EBS, why it works as both an internal and external lubricant, which polymers and processes it suits, and how it is supplied, from a US-based distributor.
EBS (N,N′-ethylene bis-stearamide, CAS 110-30-5) is a synthetic wax used as a lubricant, dispersant, and release agent in plastics processing. It melts around 140–146 °C, which places it conveniently below most polymer processing temperatures, and it is compatible with essentially every common thermoplastic. Stratus Chemical supplies technical grade white beads in bags and drums across the United States.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Additive type | N,N′ ethylene bis-stearamide |
| Synonyms | EBS, ethylene bis-stearamide, ethylene distearamide, N,N′-ethylenebis(stearamide) |
| CAS number | 110-30-5 |
| EINECS number | 203-755-6 |
| EU reference number | 53520 |
| Molecular formula | C38H76N2O2 |
| Molecular weight | 593.04 g/mol |
| Appearance | White beads |
| Grades supplied | Technical, beads |
| Packaging | Bags, drums |
| Documentation | COA & SDS provided on request |
The figures below are representative of technical grade EBS beads. They are indicative rather than guaranteed: values vary by source and by lot, and the certificate of analysis for your material governs.
| Characteristic | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White beads |
| Particle size, beads | 800 – 1200 microns |
| Melting point | 140 °C to 146 °C |
| Flash point | 285 °C |
| Bulk density | 8.09 lbs/gal |
| Specific gravity | 0.97 g/cm³ |
| Acid value | 10.0 max |
| Amine value | 5.0 max |
| Gardner colour | 6.0 max |
| Solubility in water | Insoluble |
| Percent volatiles | Nil |
| Tendency to warpage | Nil |
EBS melts between 140 and 146 °C. That range sits below the processing temperature of essentially every common thermoplastic, and the consequence is what makes the additive work.
Below its melting point, EBS is a discrete solid dispersed through the resin. Once the melt reaches processing temperature, EBS liquefies and does two jobs at once. Some of it migrates to the metal surfaces of the barrel, screw, and mould, where it forms a slip layer that reduces friction between polymer and equipment — external lubrication, which is what gives clean release and lower torque. The rest stays in the bulk, reducing friction between polymer chains themselves — internal lubrication, which improves flow and lets the melt fill thin sections.
Most lubricants do one or the other. EBS does both, which is why it appears in so many compounds and why it is often the only lubricant in a formulation. On cooling it recrystallises rather than remaining tacky, so parts release cleanly and do not block in the stack.
The bead form matters more than it looks. Beads at 800–1200 microns feed and meter cleanly in gravimetric and volumetric systems and do not dust, which is a real advantage over powder grades in a compounding operation.
EBS is compatible with the common thermoplastics used in compounding and moulding.
| Polymer | Suitability |
|---|---|
| ABS | Suitable |
| EVA | Suitable |
| PA (nylon) | Suitable |
| PC | Suitable |
| PE | Suitable |
| PP | Suitable |
| PS | Suitable |
| PET | Suitable |
| POM (acetal) | Suitable |
| PVC | Suitable |
| PMMA | Suitable |
| Process | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Compounding | Suitable |
| Injection moulding | Suitable |
| Blow moulding | Suitable |
| Sheet extrusion | Suitable |
| Film | Suitable |
| Fibre | Suitable |
| Wire & cable | Suitable |
| Rotomoulding | Test before use |
Rotomoulding is the one exception on the list and is worth taking seriously rather than treating as boilerplate. Rotomoulding holds resin at temperature for far longer than an injection or extrusion cycle, with no shear to redistribute additives, so a lubricant that behaves predictably elsewhere can migrate, bloom to the surface, or affect part appearance. Trial it before committing a production formulation.
The primary use. EBS is added at low loadings as a processing aid: it lowers melt viscosity and torque, improves mould release and part surface, prevents film and sheet from blocking in the stack, and acts as an antistatic aid.
EBS wets pigment and filler surfaces and keeps agglomerates broken apart during compounding, which improves colour development and consistency in masterbatch. Better dispersion means less pigment is needed for the same colour strength.
Used as a processing aid and release agent in rubber compounding, where it improves flow and stops uncured stock sticking to mill rolls and mould surfaces.
EBS serves as a die-wall lubricant in powder metal compaction, burning off cleanly during sintering. It is also used as an anti-caking and free-flow agent in powders, a defoamer, and an additive in inks, coatings, and asphalt.
Store EBS in a cool, dry place in closed original packaging, off damp floors. The material is stable, non-volatile, and insoluble in water, and it does not degrade in normal storage.
Keep it well below its melting range. Beads that soften and fuse in a hot warehouse form a solid mass that will not feed, which is the most common storage complaint and is entirely avoidable.
EBS is of low toxicity, but the dust and fines are irritating to eyes and the respiratory tract, and processing fumes should be ventilated. Use the protection specified in the Safety Data Sheet. Spilled beads are a slip hazard on hard floors.
EBS is used as a lubricant, dispersant, and release agent in plastics processing. It lowers melt viscosity and torque, improves mould release and part surface, prevents film and sheet from blocking, and acts as an antistatic aid. It is also used to disperse pigments and fillers in masterbatch, as a processing aid in rubber compounding, as a die-wall lubricant in powder metallurgy, and as an anti-caking agent. Stratus Chemical supplies technical grade beads in bags and drums across the United States.
The CAS number for EBS is 110-30-5 and its EINECS number is 203-755-6. Its molecular formula is C38H76N2O2 and its molecular weight is 593.04 g/mol. Its full chemical name is N,N'-ethylene bis-stearamide, and it is also known as ethylene distearamide.
EBS provides both, which is unusual. External lubrication happens at the metal interface: the additive migrates to the barrel, screw, and mould surfaces and forms a slip layer that lowers friction between polymer and equipment, giving clean release and reduced torque. Internal lubrication happens within the melt: the additive reduces friction between polymer chains, improving flow so the melt fills thin sections. Most lubricants do one or the other, which is why EBS is often the only lubricant a formulation needs.
Because at 140 to 146 degrees Celsius it sits below the processing temperature of essentially every common thermoplastic. That means EBS stays a discrete solid in the pellet blend and only liquefies once the melt reaches processing temperature, at which point it can migrate to metal surfaces and lubricate within the melt. On cooling it recrystallises rather than staying tacky, so parts release cleanly and film does not block in the stack.
EBS is listed as suitable for ABS, EVA, PA, PC, PE, PP, PS, PET, POM, PVC, and PMMA, which covers essentially all the common thermoplastics used in compounding and moulding. Broad compatibility is one of the reasons it is so widely specified. Loading levels still need to be set against the specific compound and process.
It should be trialled before use rather than assumed. Rotomoulding holds resin at temperature for much longer than an injection or extrusion cycle and applies no shear to redistribute additives, so a lubricant that behaves predictably in other processes can migrate, bloom to the surface, or affect part appearance. EBS is listed as suitable for compounding, injection moulding, blow moulding, sheet extrusion, film, fibre, and wire and cable, with rotomoulding as the single test-before-use exception.
Store EBS in a cool, dry place in closed original packaging, off damp floors. The material is stable, non-volatile, and insoluble in water, and does not degrade in normal storage. The one thing to avoid is heat: beads that soften and fuse in a hot warehouse form a solid mass that will not feed. Spilled beads are a slip hazard on hard floors.
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