๐๐ฐ๐ธย ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐บย ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ช๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ดย ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ช๐ป๐ฆย ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ญ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ,ย ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ช๐ค๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ,ย ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅย ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ณ๐ข๐ฃ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บย ๐ช๐ฏย ๐ฉ๐ช๐จ๐ฉ-๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆย ๐ค๐ฐ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ๐ด
When it comes to formulating high-performance coatings, base resins and pigments may get the spotlight, but itโs theย additivesย working behind the scenes that often determine a coatingโs real-world success. These functional components help formulators fine-tune properties like flow, durability, and surface appearance, while also making manufacturing and application more predictable and efficient.
Letโs explore some of the most essential additives used in modern coatings, and the unique benefits they bring to the table.
1. Dispersions
Purpose:ย Stabilize and evenly distribute pigments and fillers throughout the formulation.
Benefits:
- Prevent settling and flocculation
- Improve color strength and uniformity
- Enhance gloss and opacity
Applications:ย Used in waterborne and solvent-borne systems for architectural paints, automotive finishes, and industrial coatings. Dispersions ensure long-term storage stability and optimal pigment performance across substrates.
2. Rheology Control Agents
Purpose:ย Modify the flow behavior and viscosity profile of coatings.
Benefits:
- Prevent sagging and dripping during application
- Improve brushability and rollability
- Control leveling and film build
Applications:ย Ideal for vertical applications like wall coatings and wood finishes. Rheology modifiers help maintain consistency, whether applied with a spray gun or roller, across everything from heavy-duty industrial coatings to consumer interior paints.
3. Defoamers
Purpose:ย Eliminate or prevent foam during manufacturing and application.
Benefits:
- Improve surface appearance
- Minimize pinholes and craters
- Enhance film integrity and gloss
Applications:ย Critical for water-based systems and high-speed manufacturing. Defoamers are commonly used in automotive topcoats, marine finishes, and high-viscosity protective coatings.
4. Wetting Agents
Purpose:ย Promote substrate wetting and pigment dispersion.
Benefits:
- Improve adhesion
- Eliminate surface defects such as fisheyes
- Enhance substrate coverage and penetration
Applications:ย Used in metal primers, wood coatings, and plastic substrates to ensure the coating fully โwets outโ and bonds to challenging surfaces.
5. Catalysts
Purpose:ย Accelerate chemical reactions such as curing or crosslinking.
Benefits:
- Reduce drying and curing times
- Enhance mechanical and chemical resistance
- Improve production throughput
Applications:ย Widely used in epoxy, urethane, and polyaspartic systems for flooring, pipeline, and OEM applications where fast return-to-service is critical.
6. Pot Life Extenders
Purpose:ย Slow down the curing reaction to increase working time.
Benefits:
- Extend application window
- Minimize waste in two-component systems
- Provide flexibility in varying temperatures and humidity
Applications:ย Especially useful in large-scale projects or multi-component systems like industrial floor coatings, where a longer working time ensures a smooth, consistent finish without premature gelling.
7. Flow and Leveling Agents
Purpose:ย Ensure a smooth, even film free of defects.
Benefits:
- Minimize brush and roller marks
- Eliminate craters, orange peel, and surface tension issues
- Enhance gloss and clarity
Applications:ย Key in automotive clearcoats, appliance finishes, and protective topcoats where surface aesthetics are critical to end-user satisfaction.
Conclusion
Each of these additives plays a unique role in helping coatings perform their best, from the moment theyโre mixed to long after theyโve been applied. Whether you’re developing a durable industrial finish or a flawless architectural coating,ย choosing the right combination of additives is essential to formulation success.
Atย Pflaumer, we offer aย full line of advanced performance additivesย engineered to help coatings formulators meet the demands of todayโs complex applicationsโฆ whether you’re working on industrial flooring, marine protection, architectural paints, cured-in-place pipe application, or automotive finishes.ย ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บย ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ปย ๐๐ผย ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:ย ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐๐ย ๐ฃ๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ฟ
Ready to level up your formulation?
Download our Performance Additives Brochure nowย to explore our complete portfolio and discover which solutions are right for your application.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ฝ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ?
Talk to Pflaumerโs technical team to receive formulation guidance or samples of TALLICINยฎ additives that match your performance and processing needs.
