This research study discusses a variety of substrate-wetting additives for waterborne coatings and inks, giving special attention to a new class of silicone-free surfactants that combine dynamic wetting properties with foam inhibition.
This article covers different areas of application and the suitability of the different wetting agents in those areas. In addition, we consider the influence of the wetting additives' chemical composition on their performance in final application and give some guidance for the best choice of substrate-wetting additives.
Wetting is especially difficult on low-energy surfaces, i.e., substrates with low surface energy or substrates contaminated by dirty particles or liquid contaminants such as grease. In such cases, wetting defects can occur, such as crazing or crawling, or even poor adhesion of paint film (see Figure 1).