Quick answer: buyers should not treat CHLUMIFE® 3163, CHLUMIFE® 3166, and CHLUMIFE® 3370 as interchangeable surface additives. 3163 should move up first when the project needs a multi-system coating-feel and leveling route and the formulator wants a grade that can be added broadly in production, including during grinding when useful, while keeping a close eye on pinholes. 3166 becomes the stronger first route when the buyer needs a broader dry-feel plus abrasion-support screen across UV, solvent, or water-based systems and can actively manage pinhole, whitening, and foam-stabilizing risk. 3370 belongs earlier when the project is clearly UV or solvent-side, wants a feel-focused silicone-surfactant route, and does not need water-based compatibility.
That is the commercially useful split. This page is not another broad slip or scratch-resistance article. It is a tighter CHLUMICRYL® product-comparison page for buyers who are already inside the surface-performance branch and need to decide which Longchang route deserves the first sample round for surface feel, smoothness, and wear-side balance.
Why this comparison deserves its own page
Longchang already has live pages for slip additives, scratch-resistant additives, anti-blocking additives, and the narrower shortlist 3166 vs 3482X vs 3307X. Those pages answer a different buyer question. They help decide which function family or which adjacent product branch should be screened first.
This page answers a narrower question that still remains inside the CHLUMICRYL® branch: when the buyer is already evaluating feel-oriented silicone additives, which route should be screened first between 3163, 3166, and 3370?
That split is distinct because the three grades do not win for the same reason:
- 3163 is the cleaner first route for broad coating-feel and leveling balance across UV, solvent, and water-based systems when the team can manage pinhole risk.
- 3166 is the stronger first route when the buyer also wants abrasion-side support and broader dry-feel screening, but is ready to watch whitening, foam, and anti-pinhole control closely.
- 3370 is the cleaner first route when the line is clearly UV or solvent-based, water-based fit is unnecessary, and the team wants a feel-focused silicone-surfactant route with more dosage room.
That is a cleaner B2B page type than another generic additive overview because it shortens the first screen inside a specific commercial branch.
What buyers are usually trying to fix in this branch
When coating and ink teams reach this branch, the question is usually no longer whether they need a surfactant-type additive at all. The real issue is often one of these:
- surface feel is too harsh, sticky, or commercially unconvincing
- surface smoothness and leveling balance are not yet where the project needs them
- abrasion or wear-side support needs to improve without leaving the silicone-additive lane
- the formulation path may span UV, solvent, and water-based screening, so system fit matters early
- side effects such as pinholes, whitening, or foam stabilization could decide whether the route is truly practical in production
That general framing is conservative. Buyers usually judge these additives by final film handling and formulation convenience, not just by whether the liquid initially wets the substrate. The product-specific sections below stay tied to current Longchang-supported product pages.
Quick comparison table: which route deserves the first screen?
| Observed buyer priority | Best first route | Why it belongs first | Main watchpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-system coating feel and leveling balance across UV, solvent, and water-based systems, with flexible addition timing | CHLUMIFE® 3163 | Longchang positions it as an organosilicon leveling and coating-feel agent across all three system types, and it can be added at any stage, with grinding-stage use highlighted for best results | Longchang explicitly warns about pinhole risk, so the first screen should not ignore defect monitoring |
| Broader dry-feel route plus abrasion-support screening across UV, solvent, and water-based systems | CHLUMIFE® 3166 | Longchang positions it as a coating-feel and abrasion-resistant additive for all three system types, with practical notes about pairing anti-pinhole work and antifoam planning | Pinhole, whitening, and foam-stabilizing risk need to be built into the first trial |
| UV or solvent project needs a feel-focused route and does not need water-based compatibility | CHLUMIFE® 3370 | The product page positions it as an organosilicon feel agent and silicone surfactant for UV and solvent systems only, making it a cleaner non-waterborne screen | Water-based systems are not supported, and the waxy-solid handling profile should be considered early |
When CHLUMIFE® 3163 is the better first move
3163 deserves earlier review when the buyer wants a balanced feel-and-leveling route rather than a stronger abrasion-led or solvent-only feel route. Longchang’s current product page supports 3163 as an organosilicon leveling agent and coating feel agent with applicability across UV, solvent, and water-based systems. The recommended dosage is 0.05% to 1%, and the page says it can be added at any stage of production, while also noting that adding during grinding can give the best results.
That makes 3163 the cleaner first route when:
- the formulator wants one multi-system feel route before narrowing to a more specialized grade
- the project cares about feel and leveling balance more than explicit abrasion-led differentiation
- the line may test across UV, solvent, and water-based systems in parallel
- the team values addition-stage flexibility, including grinding-stage use when practical
The caution is also clear. Longchang explicitly flags that 3163 may cause pinholes. So it is a useful first route only when the trial plan actively checks defect behavior instead of screening for feel alone.
When CHLUMIFE® 3166 is the better first move
3166 should move up when the buyer wants a broader route that still lives in the feel-additive lane but needs more help on the abrasion-support side. Longchang’s current product page positions 3166 as a coating feel agent and abrasion-resistant additive across UV, solvent, and water-based systems, with a recommended dosage of 0.05% to 1%.
More importantly for selection logic, Longchang adds practical process notes that matter commercially. The page warns that 3166 may cause pinholes or whitening, may have a foam-stabilizing effect, and suggests considering an antifoaming agent during formulation testing. It also notes that 3166 can be used with BD-3033 for better anti-pinhole performance.
- Best first-screen use: broader feel-plus-abrasion screening across multiple coating-system families
- Dosage guidance: 0.05% to 1% of total formulation
- Main strength: the page directly supports both feel and abrasion-side positioning, instead of only feel or only leveling language
- Main caution: whitening and foam behavior should be screened from the first lab round, not discovered later during scale-up
In short, 3166 is the cleaner first move when the buyer still wants a feel-oriented additive, but needs a route that leans more toward wear-side support and broader surface balance than 3163 alone.
When CHLUMIFE® 3370 is the better first move
3370 belongs earlier when the buyer is not trying to keep a water-based path open and wants a more clearly UV or solvent-side feel route. Longchang’s product page positions 3370 as an organosilicon feel agent and silicone surfactant. It supports UV systems and solvent systems, but marks water-based systems as not applicable. The recommended dosage is also broader at 0.05% to 3%.
The page adds another practical distinction: 3370 is listed as a waxy solid with an initial melting point of at least 50°C. That means the handling profile is not the same as a standard all-system liquid route.
3370 therefore becomes the better first route when:
- the project is already committed to UV or solvent chemistry
- the buyer wants a feel-focused silicone-surfactant route rather than an all-system screening grade
- the lab is comfortable evaluating a waxy-solid handling profile
- water-based compatibility would only add unnecessary screening noise
The watchpoint is simple but important. If water-based fit is still on the table, 3370 should usually not be the first route because the product page explicitly excludes that system family.
How buyers should choose before requesting samples
1. Start with system-family flexibility
If the project may still move between UV, solvent, and water-based screening, 3163 and 3166 belong earlier because both are supported across all three system families. If the project is clearly UV or solvent only, 3370 becomes easier to justify.
2. Separate feel-and-leveling balance from abrasion-led balance
3163 is the cleaner first route when the project mainly wants a balanced coating-feel and leveling screen. 3166 is more useful when the buyer wants that feel route but also needs a stronger abrasion-support signal in the same first round.
3. Treat side effects as selection criteria, not afterthoughts
Pinholes, whitening, and foam stabilization are not small details. They directly affect whether a feel additive is commercially convenient. 3163 and 3166 can both be strong routes, but the first lab round should track those side effects from the start.
4. Keep handling reality visible
3370 is not only a system-fit decision. Its waxy-solid form and higher upper dosage range can change how the lab prefers to screen and handle the product. That matters when comparing it with more conventional liquid addition routes.
5. Keep the first sample round tight
For many buyers, the cleanest first screen is one 3163-led balanced feel route, one 3166-led feel-plus-abrasion route, and one 3370-led UV or solvent-only feel route. That usually teaches more than mixing too many adjacent silicone additives into the same trial plan.
Recommended Longchang path from this page
- Cluster overview: CHLUMICRYL® Coating and Ink Additives
- Related slip and wear shortlist: 3166 vs 3482X vs 3307X
- Function page: How to Choose Slip Additives for Coatings and Inks
- Function page: How to Choose Scratch-Resistant Additives for Coatings and Inks
- CHLUMIFE® 3163 product page: CHLUMIFE® 3163
- CHLUMIFE® 3166 product page: CHLUMIFE® 3166
- CHLUMIFE® 3370 product page: CHLUMIFE® 3370
FAQ
Which grade should I screen first if water-based compatibility still matters?
Usually 3163 or 3166, because Longchang supports both across UV, solvent, and water-based systems, while 3370 is not supported for water-based use.
When should 3166 move ahead of 3163?
3166 should move ahead when the project needs a feel-oriented route that also leans more clearly into abrasion-support screening and the formulator is prepared to manage pinhole, whitening, and foam-related watchpoints.
Does 3370 make sense for a water-based screening program?
Usually no. Longchang’s current product page explicitly marks water-based systems as not applicable for 3370, so it is cleaner for UV and solvent-side programs.
Why does pinhole risk matter so much in this comparison?
Because a feel additive can look commercially attractive on paper but become much harder to use if the surface develops defects during formulation or scale-up. Longchang directly flags pinhole risk for both 3163 and 3166, so that issue belongs in the first trial plan.
Need a faster feel-additive shortlist?
If your project is stuck between surface feel, smoothness, and wear-side balance, stop treating every silicone additive as the same first move. Start by deciding whether the lab needs a balanced multi-system route, a broader feel-plus-abrasion route, or a UV and solvent-only feel route. That usually shows much faster whether CHLUMIFE® 3163, 3166, or 3370 deserves the first sample round.