Do you know the function of wetting agents?

Wetting agents are substances that make solid materials easier to wet by water. By reducing their surface tension or interfacial tension, water can spread across the surface of solid materials or penetrate into them, thereby wetting the solids.

Wetting agents are surfactants that reduce surface energy, making solid materials more readily wettable by water. As surfactants, they consist of both hydrophilic and lipophilic groups. Upon contact with a solid surface, the lipophilic group attaches to the solid surface while the hydrophilic group extends outward toward the liquid. This allows the liquid to form a continuous phase on the solid surface—the fundamental principle of wetting action.

Our PE-100 wetting agent is a nonionic formulation suitable for interior and exterior latex paints. It reduces interfacial tension between liquids and solid surfaces, facilitating easier wetting of solid substrates. This ensures thorough contact between latex and pigment surfaces, eliminating issues like color floating and mottling. It improves the paint film's wetting of the substrate, significantly reduces the system's surface tension, and lowers its viscosity.

In summary, wetting agents serve two primary functions: First, they alter the surface tension and permeability of coatings, enhancing substrate wetting to improve paint adhesion. Second, they assist in dispersing fillers and pigments while providing dust-proofing properties, making them excellent anti-settling agents. Do you understand it now?