Classification of the application of surfactants in coatings:
Classified by their functions, surfactants used in the coating industry can be divided into the following categories: emulsifiers, pigment surface treatment agents, pigment wetting and dispersing agents, defoamers, leveling agents, mildew and bactericides, antistatic agents, brighteners, slip agents, etc.
Application of surfactants in the coating industry – Antistatic:
Antistatic surfactants can leak static charges through different channels or reduce the friction coefficient to inhibit the generation of static charges. Generally, they are required to have the following characteristics:
① Great antistatic effect
② Long-lasting antistatic effect
③ Good miscibility with film-forming substances
④ No impact on other properties of the coating, such as not causing yellowing of the coating film, etc.
The working principle of antistatic agents is: utilizing their cationic surface activity, they adsorb moisture in the air, causing themselves to polarize, forming an extremely thin conductive layer on the surface, which constitutes a static leakage channel. Therefore, their effect depends on their own structure and the relative humidity of the environment.
Application of Surfactants in the Coating Industry – Leveling: To use leveling agents to improve the leveling property of coatings, the following two factors can be considered:
① Select surfactants that can reduce the surface tension of coatings/films to greatly improve the leveling property of coatings.
② Select solvents with slow volatilization rate that can reduce the application viscosity of coatings, so as to improve the fluidity of coatings, extend the leveling time, and achieve final leveling.
Post time: Feb-27-2026