Selection method of leveling agent for water-based coatings

Whether a smooth and even coating is formed after the coating dries and forms a film is the standard for evaluating the leveling performance of the coating. A smooth and even coating indicates excellent leveling performance, while a leveling agent is needed to improve poor leveling performance.

This is especially true for water-based coatings. In fact, the rapid development of water-based coatings symbolizes people's progress. After all, in the past, people only focused on development and did not attach importance to health, but now "environmental protection" is one of the main themes of society, pursuing sustainable development. However, water-based coatings use water as a solvent or medium, and the properties of water result in many defects in water-based coatings.

Poor leveling is one of them. Brushing marks, orange peel, rolling marks, sagging, shrinkage, pinholes, etc. are all manifestations of poor coating leveling, which bring many adverse effects:

1. Reduced coverage efficiency will increase costs

2. Disrupting the aesthetic appeal of the appearance

3. Weaken the protective effect of the coating on the substrate

4. Not conducive to drying and film formation

There are many factors that affect the leveling of coatings, such as surface tension, shear force, viscosity changes, solvents, etc., which all affect the paint film to varying degrees and interact with each other. Adding leveling agents achieves good leveling effects by influencing the balance of various factors in different stages. However, different types of leveling agents have different mechanisms of action and effects, so when choosing leveling agents, comprehensive consideration should be given to the problems that need to be solved and the structural category of the additives.