Comment fonctionnent les agents de nivellement ?

Quick answer: A practical additive decision starts with the exact defect: foam, poor wetting, craters, haze, or instability. The best product is usually the one that solves that defect with the safest compatibility window.

1. Vue d'ensemble du nivellement

After the construction of paint, there is a flow and drying film-forming process, and then gradually form a flat, smooth, uniform coating film. Whether the coating film can achieve the characteristics of flat and smooth is called leveling. In the actual construction process of the coating, the film defects that often appear are orange peel, fish-eye, shrinkage, pinhole, shrinkage, Benedict swirl, air sensitivity and due to poor leveling, brush marks when brushing, roller coating roller marks are known as poor leveling, the generation of these phenomena reduces the decorative and protective function of the coating. There are many factors affecting the leveling of coatings, such as solvent volatility gradient and solubility properties, surface tension of coatings, wet film thickness and surface tension gradient, rheology of coatings, construction process and environment, etc., of which the most important factors are the surface tension of coatings, surface tension gradient generated by the wet film in the film-forming process and the surface tension homogenization of the surface layer of the wet film. To improve the leveling of coatings, it is necessary to consider adjusting the formulation and adding suitable additives. In practice, CHLUMILE 3345 Leveling Agent et CHLUMILE 3033 Leveling Agent are often compared so that the coatings have suitable surface tension and the ability to reduce the surface tension gradient.
2. Rôle de l'agent de nivellement
Après le mouillage du substrat, les additifs qui contrôlent l'écoulement du revêtement jusqu'au nivellement final sont appelés agents de nivellement, qui peuvent résoudre les problèmes suivants
3. Les principaux facteurs d'influence du nivellement
3.1. Gradient de tension superficielle - interface liquide-air
● Les gradients de tension superficielle dans les couches internes et externes entraînent des tourbillons de Benadryl.
● L'élimination du gradient de tension superficielle est un élément essentiel pour obtenir une surface plane.
3.2. Tension superficielle -- interface liquide-solide
Tension de surface inférieure à celle du substrat, de sorte que le revêtement présente une meilleure mouillabilité du substrat
● Tension superficielle plus faible du revêtement, ce qui entraîne un meilleur nivellement du liquide par ondes longues.
4. Facteurs influençant la vitesse de nivellement
● Plus la viscosité est élevée, plus le nivellement est lent.
Plus le film est épais, plus le nivellement est rapide.
Plus la tension superficielle est élevée, plus le nivellement est rapide.
5. Mécanismes et propriétés des différents agents de nivellement
5. 1) Éliminer le gradient de tension superficielle
5. 2 Réduire la tension superficielle du système.
● Organosilicones.
-Réduction significative de la tension superficielle
● Organosilicones : - Réduction significative de la tension superficielle - Bonnes propriétés de migration éliminant le gradient de tension superficielle.
● Sans silicone et sans fluor : - Pas de réduction significative de la tension superficielle.
-Pas de réduction significative de la tension superficielle
- Pas de migration de surface
- Orientation dans le revêtement, ajustement de l'homogénéité de la tension superficielle locale

How buyers usually evaluate coating and ink additives

Additive selection is usually most effective when the team defines the defect first and then screens compatibility, dosage range, and process stage. That is often much more reliable than choosing only by chemistry family or by a single dramatic lab result.

• Start from the defect, not the additive name: wetting loss, crater, microfoam, and instability often need different solutions even inside the same formula.
• Check compatibility at the intended dosage: the strongest additive can still be the wrong commercial choice if it narrows the process window too much.
• Review the stage of use: some products are most useful during grind, while others matter more during let-down, filling, or final application.
• Balance cure or film quality with defect control: the right additive fixes the problem without sacrificing adhesion, gloss, or appearance.

Recommended product references

• CHLUMIAF 094: A balanced defoamer reference for waterborne coatings and many general foam-control screens.
• CHLUMIAF 3062: Useful when printing-ink and UV-ink compatibility matter in the defoaming screen.
• CHLUMIAF 3037: A stronger process-defoaming option when persistent foam survives harsher conditions.
• CHLUMIWE 3280: A strong wetting-agent reference for inks, coatings, and difficult substrate wetting.

FAQ for buyers and formulators

Why does an additive that looks powerful in a beaker sometimes fail in production?
Because shear, temperature, substrate, and the full formula can all change the way the additive performs under real process conditions.

Should the most aggressive additive always be preferred?
Not usually. The best additive is the one that solves the real defect while preserving the broadest safe operating window.