Characteristics of different leveling agents

Organic silicon leveling agent 

There are currently three main types of structures: polydimethylsiloxane, polymethylalkylsiloxane, and organic modified polysiloxane. Organic modified polysiloxane is the most important, and short chain organosilicon does not affect recoating.

This type of leveling agent can not only significantly reduce the surface tension of the coating, improve the wetting ability of the substrate and the flowability of the paint film, eliminate Benard vortices to prevent fogging, but also improve the smoothness, anti hanging and anti adhesion properties of the coating. The disadvantage of such leveling agents is that they tend to stabilize foam, affect the adhesion between layers, and some also pollute the construction environment, such as the oven.

Acrylic leveling agent

Acrylic leveling agents include pure acrylic leveling agents and modified acrylic leveling agents.

Pure acrylic leveling agent only slightly reduces the surface tension of the coating, which can balance the difference in surface tension of the paint film and obtain a truly smooth, mirror like paint film surface. If the molecular weight is high enough, these leveling agents also have degassing and defoaming effects. The disadvantage of traditional non reactive acrylic leveling agents is that high molecular weight products may produce haze in the paint film, while low molecular weight products may reduce the surface hardness of the paint film. Acrylic leveling agents containing reactive functional groups can effectively solve this contradiction, providing good leveling performance without producing haze or reducing surface hardness, and sometimes even increasing surface hardness.

Fluorocarbon leveling agent

Fluorocarbon leveling agent is characterized by high efficiency, but expensive. It is generally used when acrylic leveling agent and silicone leveling agent are difficult to play a role. However, there is a tendency to stabilize foam and affect the adhesion between layers.