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TECH NEWS

AbsoluteBlack unveils pliable hot melt chain wax lubricant

Called the GRAPHENwax, AbsoluteBlack says the formula is quiet, clean and doesn’t flake

The GRAPHENwax is AbsoluteBlack’s new pliable hot wax lubricant which aims to defy the drawbacks of regular paraffin waxing. This comes from the brand who produced the world's first hydrocarbon-based chain lubricant containing graphene, costing a whopping £114.99 for 140ml.

AbsoluteBlack says its new hot wax lubricant has “excellent durability whilst maintaining impressively low friction for a prolonged period of time, in both, wet and dry conditions”.

2021 Absolute Black GraphenWax 3

A quieter performance is also said to be delivered as the wax sticks better to the side of the link plates.

Breaking in the chain with the GRAPHENwax is reportedly significantly easier compared to other hot melt waxes. AbsoluteBlack says that once the chain cools all that needs to be done is to run the chain between two fingers along its entire length, as shown in the video below.

The new wax is said not to chip, leave any marks or crumble, which means no mess putting the chain on the bike, and when in use while riding the wax protects the drivetrain for longer.

AbsoluteBlack explains that it hasn't used Tungsten Disulfide (WS2) nor Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2) additives in the formula, as it claims these substances only exhibit low friction qualities in vacuum or inert gas, and they rapidly oxidise in air giving them a short life span. Neither does the formula contain any oils or paraffin oils as this is also said to adversely impact the friction.

Other claimed benefits of the GRAPHENwax include quicker melting in the crockpot and no worries about the wax melting off the chain on a hot day. 

2021 Absolute Black GraphenWax 4

The GRAPHENwax is available now priced at £24.95, which is half the RRP. That introductory offer will end on 1 March next year.

The brand launched its incredibly pricey £114.99 GRAPHENlube earlier this year in June, which came with bold claims of "3-10w savings over other lubes" and promises of lasting up to 1800km on a single application. We featured Graphenlube in this video, and found that claims of lower friction did seem to add up...

 

To find out more, head over to absoluteblack.cc

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23 comments

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IanEdward | 3 years ago
0 likes

What would Absoluteblack recommend for seriously wet muddy conditions? I've been using Putoline on my CX bike this winter and the drivetrain feels amazing after a fresh application, but unfortunately after just one wet muddy ride the outer surfaces of the chain are bare again and will rust if I don't apply some sort of 'top-coat' lube.

So I like the benefits of hot waxing chains and don't find it particularly difficult to do, but how do you maintain the outer surface of the chain after those wet rides?

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Chris Hayes replied to IanEdward | 3 years ago
0 likes

It's good question.  Wax doesn't last in wet. gritty conditions and riding in those conditions means clean, dry, repeat in my experience. 

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IanEdward replied to Chris Hayes | 3 years ago
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I'm assuming the wax sticks around inside the rollers so am sort of adopting a once monthly waxing routine and topping up more or less every ride to protect the outer plates.

Still wondering what the best lube for 'topping up' is. Am just using some Morgan Blue wet lube that I had lying around anyway, apply sparingly and wipe off excess so it stays relatively clean.

 

 

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Chris Hayes replied to IanEdward | 3 years ago
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I've been using the Silca Super Secret wax on the rollers - and if you dip the chain and let it dry properly then it seems to work.  I'd not considered using wax and oil.  Doesn't that mean you get crud-caking on the cassette and chainrings?

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Chris Hayes | 3 years ago
1 like

I've been waxing my chains since the Summer and have been very pleased with the results.  I can't say much about decreased friction, increased performance, etc. but my drivechain is much cleaner - and that was my main objective.  No more crap-caked chains, cassettes and derailleurs that can only be cleaned with a screwdriver or a pick.  I'll try this when I run out of my current supply.  I may even stock up. 

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Gkam84 | 3 years ago
0 likes

I've been waxing chains longer than I can remember, I started adding graphene to the mix back in the early 2000's. It's nothing new, some just have better marketing than others. I could cool and set my wax from the slow cooker, put a nice stamp on it and call it world beating....angel

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Sriracha replied to Gkam84 | 3 years ago
3 likes

Out of curiosity, I always understood the lubrication properties of graphite came from the loose bonds between the layers, allowing them to slide easily over one another. So graphene, that is just a single one of the graphite layers on its own, nothing else much to slide over. How is graphene supposed to be a better lubricant than graphite (or am I just assuming that), or is it just a "sexier" thing from the marketing perspective?

Incidentally, graphene was only isolated in 2004. You must have been ahead of the game to be already exploiting it at that time.

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absoluteBLACK.cc replied to Gkam84 | 3 years ago
4 likes

We believe you are refering to graphite which is not graphene

Despite the fact that both of these materials are only built from carbon atoms, the similarity ends here. Graphene possesses completely different mechanical and tribological properties to graphite. For example, graphite exhibits 0.1-0.2 COF (coefficient of friction) in very humid air, but 0.5-0.7 COF when air is dry, which is very high friction comparable to steel on steel sliding without lubrication. Graphene, on the other hand, is very stable across full spectrum of humidity with 0.1-0.2 COF.  Graphene also possesses incredible mechanical strength allowing it to effectively separate metal surfaces and suppressing wear rate by 1-2 orders of magnitude in comparison to graphite. To sum up, using graphite instead of graphene in the same solution, would produce completely adverse results.

 

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Sriracha replied to absoluteBLACK.cc | 3 years ago
2 likes

Good of you to chip in. But graphene is just graphite separated into its constituent layers, right. It was first isolated by using sticky tape to simply peel off individual layers from a lump of graphite, after all. So all this talk of its superhuman strength and magical properties, don't let it distract from the fact that graphite is just lots of graphene stuck together in layers. If a single layer can "separate metal surfaces" then I don't see how multiple layers can do any the less. Even if it has to wear down to the final layer before the marketing people get excited.

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absoluteBLACK.cc replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
2 likes

Using the same logic you could say that coal is the same as diamond, however we all know how different those are and how different properties they poses.

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OnYerBike replied to absoluteBLACK.cc | 3 years ago
3 likes

Well no, that is not using the same logic at all, is it?

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Nick T replied to absoluteBLACK.cc | 3 years ago
3 likes

Are any snakes harmed in the production of your oils?

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David9694 replied to Nick T | 3 years ago
0 likes

I was thinking of getting our resident trolls some for Christmas. 

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absoluteBLACK.cc replied to Nick T | 3 years ago
1 like

 we don't make oils 

 

 

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Chris Hayes replied to absoluteBLACK.cc | 3 years ago
2 likes

You're on a hiding to nothing rising to the bait! 

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stomec replied to Sriracha | 3 years ago
1 like

Sriracha wrote:

Good of you to chip in. But graphene is just graphite separated into its constituent layers, right. It was first isolated by using sticky tape to simply peel off individual layers from a lump of graphite, after all. So all this talk of its superhuman strength and magical properties, don't let it distract from the fact that graphite is just lots of graphene stuck together in layers. If a single layer can "separate metal surfaces" then I don't see how multiple layers can do any the less. Even if it has to wear down to the final layer before the marketing people get excited.

Hmmm.  I don't think graphite behaves just as though there were lots of sheets of graphene stuck on one another; there are bonds between the layers for instance.  I would say that the electrical, chemical and mechanical properties of graphene are very different from those of graphite, and I think it is very fair to say that eg graphene has a much higher tensile strength than graphite for instance, and I could easily believe that it has much lower coefiicient of friction.  For me the interesting part would be how Absolute Black have stopped the graphene from stacking and becoming graphite in the wax/chain lube, but I suspect they will not be prepared to  tell us on this forum 

 

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nadsta replied to absoluteBLACK.cc | 3 years ago
0 likes

HI absoluteblack , a question re: maintaining your hot wax, how do you know when to rewax and can you use anything in the interim with the chain installed rather than removing for a full rewax? Thanks

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Accessibility f... | 3 years ago
2 likes

Anyone who believes the marketing behind this is a fool.  It's a chain, just put some basic oil on it and ride ffs.

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dave atkinson replied to Accessibility for all | 3 years ago
2 likes

how basic? is vegetable oil okay? I have loads of that.

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ktache replied to dave atkinson | 3 years ago
2 likes

I understand it's better than nothing.

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Sriracha replied to dave atkinson | 3 years ago
1 like

Canola oil is used to lubricate paper shredders.

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ChrisB200SX | 3 years ago
0 likes

Hmm, £25 isn't a huge amount and that looks a lot easier to articulate the links once dry.

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Sriracha replied to ChrisB200SX | 3 years ago
0 likes

I mean, articulating the links on a freshly waxed chain, it's not exactly the end of the world.

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