Product

Slip additives for plastics – Erucamide and Oleamide

Plant-based slip additives for smoother plastic film processing.

What are Erucamide and Oleamide?

Erucamide and Oleamide are natural slip additives derived from refined vegetable oils.

Erucamide is produced from Erucic Acid, typically sourced from rapeseed oil, while Oleamide comes from Oleic Acid, most commonly derived from vegetable sources such as sunflower or soya. Both function by migrating to the surface of a polymer film after processing, where they form a thin lubricating layer that reduces friction between surfaces. They’re supplied as beads, microbeads or pastilles, making them straightforward to handle and incorporate at the manufacturing stage.

What are Erucamide and Oleamide used for?

Both slip additives are used in polyolefin film manufacturing, where controlling the coefficient of friction (CoF) between film layers, and between film and processing equipment, is essential for downstream handling and performance.

Oleamide is a fast-migrating slip additive, making it particularly well suited to LDPE and LLDPE film applications where you need a rapid reduction in CoF immediately after production. It’s commonly used in high-speed packaging film applications, where films need to run reliably over rollers and through automated packaging lines without sticking or jamming.

Erucamide migrates more slowly, which gives it a longer-lasting slip effect. It’s recommended for a broader substrate range (including LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE and EVA) and is also well suited to PP film and injection moulding applications. Its slower migration profile makes it a better fit where sustained, durable slip performance over time is more important than an immediate effect.

Key benefits: Slip additives

Precise CoF control

Both Oleamide and Erucamide give you reliable, repeatable control over the coefficient of friction in your film. Choosing the right additive, either fast or slow migrating, lets you match the slip profile to your specific processes and end-use requirements.

Vegetable-based raw materials

Both slip additives are derived from refined vegetable oils, which gives them a bio-based origin. If you’re looking to reduce your reliance on petrochemical-derived additives or support sustainability claims in your supply chain, it’s a commercially useful characteristic.

Compatibility

Between them, Erucamide and Oleamide are compatible with a wide range of polyolefin substrates, including LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, EVA and PP. That makes them versatile across different production lines and product types, without needing to qualify entirely different additive chemistries for each application.

Flexibility

Both Erucamide and Oleamide can be introduced via direct additivation in the polymer production process, through a masterbatch, or during the compounding step. That flexibility means you can integrate them into your existing processes in whichever way suits your setup best.

High purity grades

The Oleamide and Erucamide we supply are high-purity products, which matters when you’re working to tight specifications or need consistent performance batch to batch.

Why source your slip additives from MegaChem (UK)?

We supply Erucamide and Oleamide to manufacturers across the plastics and packaging sectors, with access to quality-assured material from trusted producers. Our team understands polymer additive applications, so you’ll get the right technical advice about grades, use levels and what’s going to work for your process. We’re flexible on pack sizes and volumes, and our global sourcing network means we can maintain a reliable supply even when the raw material markets tighten. If you need technical data sheets, safety documentation or help evaluating which grade is right for your application, we’re here for that, too.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between Erucamide and Oleamide, and how do I choose?

Migration rate is the key difference. Oleamide migrates quickly to the film surface, so it delivers a rapid drop in CoF. This is useful when you need immediate slip performance out of the line, particularly in LDPE and LLDPE packaging films. Erucamide is slower to migrate, giving a more gradual and longer-lasting effect. It’s the better choice when you need sustained slip performance over time, or when you’re working with a broader range of substrates.

At what use level should I incorporate these additives?

Both Erucamide and Oleamide are typically used at 0.1% to 0.4% on total compound weight, adjusted depending on your target CoF, the substrate and your end-use requirements. Your specific processing conditions and film thickness will also influence the effective use level.

Can these slip additives be used in food contact applications?

Yes. Erucamide and Oleamide are widely used in food packaging applications and are listed under various food contact regulations, including EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic materials in contact with food, which was retained in UK law post-Brexit. However, you should always verify the regulatory status of the specific grade you’re using and confirm its suitability for your application and market.

What happens if the material agglomerates during storage?

Both products can form soft agglomerates during transit or storage, particularly at higher ambient temperatures. This is a normal characteristic that doesn’t affect performance. The agglomerates break apart easily and won’t cause any processing issues.

Are Erucamide and Oleamide compatible with other additives in a compound?

Generally, yes. Both are well-established additives with a long history of use in polyolefin compounds alongside antioxidants, antistats and other processing aids. As with any additive combination, it’s worth validating the interactions in your specific formulation, particularly where multiple migrating compounds are present, as this can influence the overall slip profile.

Get your slip additives from MegaChem (UK)

If you’re specifying slip additives for a new application or reviewing your current supply, we’re happy to help you work through your options. To discuss grades and availability or to request a sample, get in touch today.