What is the relationship between leveling agents and the smoothness of coatings

With the development of high-quality and high-performance wood coatings, the use of low dosage and highly effective smoothing and leveling agents in coatings has attracted increasing attention. Polyether modified silicone oil is a widely used leveling agent in the coating industry with good smooth flow effect. It can reduce the surface tension of the coating, decrease the surface tension gradient of the coating film, prevent the formation of Bernad dimples, improve leveling and gloss, reduce the interfacial tension between the coating and substrate, improve substrate wetting, and reduce surface defects such as shrinkage.

A considerable number of domestic additive companies rely mainly on agency and lack the ability to develop their own products. In recent years, numerous foreign brands have flooded into China, causing a significant impact on the domestic additive industry. At present, imported organic silicon leveling agents have been widely used in coatings such as automotive paint and furniture paint, occupying the majority of the market share. 

Organosilicon leveling agents are mainly various modified silicone oils with different structures, and a series of leveling agents with different properties can be obtained through structural changes. The performance of organic silicon leveling agents mainly includes the following aspects: leveling, compatibility (transparency in clear varnish), coating smoothness, low foam stability, anti adhesion, substrate wetting, and anti shrinkage porosity.