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The role of unstable water-based wetting agents

2025-02-11

The role of unstable water-based wetting agents


Wetting agents play a crucial role in the modern coating, ink, and adhesive industries. They can improve the wetting performance of liquids, promote leveling, and prevent the occurrence of defects such as shrinkage. Among them, unstable water-based wetting agents are highly favored due to their unique properties.


1、 Basic concepts of wetting agents

Wetting agent is an additive that can reduce the surface tension of liquids, thereby improving the wetting ability of liquids on solid surfaces. In coatings, inks, and other systems, the role of wetting agents is mainly reflected in two aspects: first, reducing the surface tension of the system, making it easier for the liquid to spread on the substrate; The second is to improve leveling and reduce the occurrence of defects such as shrinkage and pinholes.


2、 Characteristics of unstable water-based wetting agents

Unstable foaming wetting agents are a special type of wetting agent that not only have the basic functions of reducing surface tension and improving leveling, but also have the characteristics of unstable foaming. This means that after adding such wetting agent, the foam generated in the system can burst quickly without forming a stable foam layer. This characteristic is of great significance for improving the construction performance and final coating quality of coatings, inks, and other systems.


3、 The role of unstable water-based wetting agents

Improving wetting performance: Unstable water-based wetting agents can significantly reduce the static and dynamic surface tension of the system, making it easier for the liquid to spread on the substrate. This is particularly important for substrates that are difficult to wet, such as porous and rough surface wood.


Improving leveling: By reducing surface tension, unstable water-based wetting agents can promote leveling of coatings and reduce the occurrence of defects such as shrinkage and pinholes. This helps to improve the uniformity and aesthetics of the coating.


Foam prevention: the unstable foam characteristics of the unstable foam water-based wetting agent enable it to quickly burst the generated foam in the system to avoid the impact of foam on the workability and final coating quality. This is particularly important for occasions that require high-definition coating, such as automotive painting, electronic product painting, etc.


Not affecting recoating properties: Many unstable water-based wetting agents improve wetting and leveling performance without negatively affecting the recoating properties of the coating. This means that even after using such wetting agents, multi-layer coating can still be easily carried out.



4、 Application areas of unstable water-based wetting agents

Unstable water-based wetting agents are widely used in water-based coatings, water-based inks, water-based adhesives, and other fields. They are especially suitable for occasions requiring high wettability, high levelness and low foam performance, such as automobile coating, electronic product coating, wood coating, etc. In addition, unstable water-based wetting agents can also be used in water-based industrial paints, water-based dispersion resin systems, etc. to improve the comprehensive performance of these systems.


5、 Conclusion

Unstable water-based wetting agents play an important role in the coatings, inks, and adhesive industries due to their unique properties. They can not only improve the wettability and leveling property, but also prevent the production of foam, improve the construction performance and final coating quality. With the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of application fields, the performance and application prospects of unstable water-based wetting agents will become even broader.