Hoe werken nivelleermiddelen?

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. Overzicht van nivellering

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 en 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. Rol van nivelleringsmiddel
Na het bevochtigen van het substraat worden de additieven die het vloeien van de coating tot de uiteindelijke nivellering regelen nivelleermiddelen genoemd, die de volgende problemen kunnen oplossen
3. De belangrijkste beïnvloedende factoren van nivellering
3.1. Oppervlaktespanningsgradiënt - grensvlak vloeistof-lucht
Oppervlaktespanningsgradiënten in de binnenste en buitenste lagen leiden tot Benadryl-wervelingen
Eliminatie van de oppervlaktespanningsgradiënt is een essentieel element in het verkrijgen van een vlak oppervlak.
3.2. Oppervlaktespanning -- grensvlak vloeistof/vaste stof
Lagere oppervlaktespanning dan het substraat, zodat de coating het substraat beter bevochtigt
Lagere oppervlaktespanning van de coating, wat leidt tot een betere nivellering van de vloeistof over lange golven.
4. Beïnvloedende factoren van nivelleersnelheid
Hoe hoger de viscositeit, hoe langzamer de nivellering.
Hoe dikker de folie, hoe sneller je egaliseert.
Hoe hoger de oppervlaktespanning, hoe sneller de nivellering.
5. Mechanismen en eigenschappen van verschillende nivelleermiddelen
5. 1) Oppervlaktespanningsgradiënt elimineren
5. 2 Verlaag de oppervlaktespanning van het systeem.
Organosiliconen.
-Vermindert de oppervlaktespanning aanzienlijk
Organosiliconen: - Verminderen oppervlaktespanning aanzienlijk - Goede migratie-eigenschappen elimineren oppervlaktespanningsgradiënt
Niet-siliconen en niet-fluor: - Geen significante verlaging van de oppervlaktespanning
-Geen significante verlaging van de oppervlaktespanning
- Geen oppervlaktemigratie
- Oriëntatie binnen de coating, aanpassen van lokale oppervlaktespanningshomogeniteit

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.