The ingredients of leveling agents are mainly divided into the following categories:
1. Silicone leveling agents
Basic ingredients: With polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the core, the leveling effect is achieved by reducing the surface tension.
Modification type:
Polyether modified silicone: By introducing polyether segments to improve compatibility, it is suitable for water-based and solvent-based systems;
Alkyl modified silicone: Enhances thermal stability and defoaming performance, but the ability to reduce surface tension is weak;
Fluoro modified silicone: It has both low surface energy and excellent weather resistance, and is mostly used in high-end coatings.
2. Acrylic leveling agents
Pure acrylic leveling agent: Balances surface tension differences by adjusting molecular weight, but may cause haze or hardness reduction.
Modified acrylic leveling agent:
Fluoro modification: Significantly reduces surface tension and maintains wettability;
Phosphate modification: Enhances substrate wetting ability.
3. Solvent leveling agent
High boiling point solvent mixture: such as xylene, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, etc., control the drying process of the paint film by adjusting the evaporation rate.
Mixed solvent system: Combine different boiling point solvents to optimize the leveling effect and avoid shrinkage or interlayer adhesion problems.
4. Other additives and synthetic raw materials
Catalysts and comonomers: such as azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) to initiate polymerization, styrene as a comonomer to improve performance;
Surfactant: Assist in reducing surface tension and improving permeability.