Paint Ink Additives

The surface of coating

Although the coating might be for different purposes; protective, decorative or both, it is the eye-catcher for its users and consumers. It is exposed to “the world” and has not only to withstand some severe circumstances like weathering, but is responsible for the appearance of the coating, colour, brightness, gloss and the “touch”. It all starts at the surface. In most cases, superior surface properties cannot be achieved without the addition of slip & levelling additives which alter the surface properties of the coating.

Polysiloxanes have a very high surface activity and therefore are often used as surface control additives. Silicone-based surface control additives are modified by polyethers, polyesters or alkyl side groups to improve recoatability and inter-coat adhesion. Modification parameters are silicone content, molecular weight, and modification degree.

Polyacrylates, homo- and copolymers based on (meth)acrylic monomers are well known surface control additives. In addition to their positive impact on flow and levelling, acrylic homoand co-polymers are effective as air-release agents. Since they are not reducing the surface tension of the coating to the extent of silicone-based products, the wetting of substrate surfaces is improved (substrate wetting).