The main uses of wetting agents include the following aspects:
Chemical production: In the manufacture of coatings and inks, wetting agents can reduce the surface tension of liquids, help coatings and inks adhere more evenly to solid surfaces, reduce bubbles and holes, and improve the smoothness and adhesion of coatings. For example, in the pre-treatment process of automobile painting, wetting agents help paints fit the metal surface better and prevent the paint film from falling off.
Agriculture: In pesticide spraying, wetting agents can make the liquid medicine spread evenly on plant leaves, enhance the adhesion and permeability of pesticides, and thus improve the prevention and control effect. For example, when preventing and controlling rice pests and diseases, wetting agents make the liquid medicine cover the rice leaves evenly, reduce the amount of medicine used and improve the prevention and control effect. In addition, wetting agents are also used in fertilizers to help nutrient solutions penetrate deep into the soil and improve absorption efficiency.
Daily chemical products: In daily chemical products such as shampoo and detergent, wetting agents can destroy the interfacial tension between oil stains and tableware, allowing the detergent ingredients to quickly penetrate and decompose oil stains. For example, wetting agents in shampoo help moisture and hair care ingredients to be evenly distributed on the surface of hair, reducing hair tangles.
Pharmaceutical industry: In the coating process of tablets or capsules, wetting agents help the coating solution to evenly wrap the tablets to prevent the coating layer from cracking or falling off. Some oral liquid preparations add wetting agents to improve the solubility and stability of drug ingredients.
Textile printing and dyeing: Wetting agents help dyes to evenly penetrate fibers, shorten the contact time between dyes and fibers, and reduce uneven dyeing or color difference. For example, pure cotton fabrics are treated with wetting agents before dyeing to improve the brightness and color fastness of the dyeing.
Printing industry: In ink preparation, wetting agents allow ink to quickly fill the pores on the surface of paper, avoid blurring the edges of printed patterns or "flying white", and ensure printing quality.