In the coatings industry, achieving the perfect balance between durability, functionality, and aesthetics is no small feat. Professionals often face challenges such as ensuring consistent application, improving product performance, and meeting demanding industry standards. Additives play a role in overcoming these hurdles, improving aesthetics and enabling coatings to deliver results while addressing key issues like viscosity, adhesion, and water resistance.
This article highlights five essential types of additives commonly used in coatings: rheology modifiers, dispersants, matting agents, wetting agents, and hydrophobic additives. Each serves a unique purpose, helping coatings meet the stringent demands of industrial and decorative applications. Continue reading to discover how these coasting additives and Rakem Group’s solutions can transform your projects.
1. Rheology Modifiers (Thickeners)
Rheology modifiers, or thickeners, are essential for managing the flow and consistency of coating solutions. By controlling viscosity, they give a smooth and even application while minimising issues like sagging or dripping. These additives also contribute to the stability of formulations, preventing settling during storage and maintaining consistency over time.
Rakem Group’s rheology modifiers are designed with unique features to address diverse coating challenges. CELOPRO® HHB70S enhances viscosity in water-based coatings while ensuring effortless application, whereas CELOPRO® HHB30S offers balanced viscosity and exceptional stability for versatile use. For heavy-duty needs, CELOPRO® HHB6000S provides superior durability and performance in the most demanding industrial environments.
2. Dispersants
Coating solutions rely on additives to stabilise pigments and particles, meaning they remain evenly distributed throughout the mixture. By preventing clumping, these additives improve colour consistency and help maintain uniform performance. They also lower viscosity in high-pigment formulations, which facilitates smoother application and a professional finish.
Rakem Group provides a range of dispersants to meet these diverse demands. Our top-performing products include:
- K850: A dependable option for achieving vibrant and uniform colours in water-based systems, making it suitable for decorative and automotive applications.
- DMA40: Effective in lowering viscosity, this dispersant is ideal for complex formulations used in high-performance industrial coatings.
- ASP40 and ASP42: Perfect for solvent-based and high-solids systems, these products can give you consistent pigment stability and are commonly applied in specialised and protective coatings.
In the automotive sector, achieving consistent colour uniformity in metallic paints can be a significant challenge. Dispersants like DMA40 are particularly effective in stabilising pigments for high-performance industrial and automotive coatings, ensuring smooth application and a flawless finish. For decorative paints and architectural finishes, K850 is an excellent choice, delivering vibrant and uniform colours in water-based systems. Meanwhile, ASP40 and ASP42 excel in solvent-based and high-solids systems, making them ideal for specialised coatings such as marine or protective applications where consistent pigment stability is needed.
3. Matting Agents
These are additives designed to reduce the gloss level of coatings, creating smooth, low-sheen finishes often used in decorative applications for a matte or satin appearance and in industrial settings to minimise glare and enhance surface aesthetics. By altering the surface texture, matting agents help achieve the desired look while maintaining the functional properties of the coating.
For decorative paints, creating a low-sheen, matte finish is a popular design trend. Matting agents achieve this aesthetic while also offering scratch resistance to maintain the paint’s long-term durability. In addition to their visual benefits, matting agents can improve surface durability, offering properties such as better scratch resistance and a smoother feel. This makes them an important component in high-performance coatings.
Rakem Group’s range of matting agents includes:
- SYLYSIA SY350: A versatile option for creating consistent low-gloss finishes in decorative and industrial applications.
- SYLYSIA SY370: Offers excellent scratch resistance, making it ideal for coatings in high-traffic areas or demanding environments.
- SYLYSIA SY340: Known for delivering a fine surface texture and a soft-touch feel.
These matting agents are suitable for various coatings, including decorative paints, wood finishes, and protective coatings, providing both aesthetic appeal and functional improvements.
4. Wetting Agents
These agents play a key role in improving the adhesion
of coatings to a variety of surfaces. By reducing surface tension, they allow the coating to spread evenly, preventing defects such as fisheyes, cratering, or poor adhesion. Industrial coatings often require smooth adhesion on irregular or textured surfaces. Wetting agents like BRB Siloen® WA 264 help with surface wetting, reducing common defects such as fisheyes and improving overall coating performance. Wetting agents are particularly useful in applications where smooth and uniform coverage is essential.
These additives are widely used across different types of coatings, including:
- Decorative Coatings: Provides smooth finishes on walls and ceilings.
- Industrial Coatings: Aid in covering irregular or textured surfaces, such as metal or machinery.
- Protective Coatings: Increase adhesion on challenging substrates, which in turn improves durability and performance.
Rakem Group’s standout product in this category is:
- BRB Siloen® WA 264: A high-performance wetting agent designed to deliver excellent adhesion and uniform application. It is compatible with a range of formulations and is effective across diverse coating systems.
This wetting agent helps maintain a flawless finish, whether for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes, allowing for consistent results and minimising application challenges.
5. Hydrophobic Additives (Water Repellent)
These additives within the coatings have water-resistant properties, making them essential for protective and waterproofing solutions. By creating a barrier against moisture, hydrophobic additives improve the durability of coatings, helping to prevent issues like water damage, corrosion, and material degradation.
Hydrophobic additives are widely used in:
- Protective Coatings: To shield surfaces in industrial or marine environments from harsh weather and moisture exposure.
- Construction Coatings: For waterproofing applications in concrete, masonry, and other building materials.
- Outdoor Coatings: To increase longevity and maintain appearance despite prolonged exposure to environmental elements.
In construction coatings, water resistance is required to protect materials from environmental damage. Hydrophobic additives such as BRB Siloen® 5022 WR improve moisture resistance, increasing the durability of concrete and other surfaces.
BRB Siloen® 5022 WR is a high-performance water-repellent additive that provides exceptional moisture resistance. It ensures a durable finish while maintaining excellent compatibility with various coating systems. This additive is a reliable solution for creating coatings that deliver lasting protection and performance in challenging conditions.
Additives are useful in defining the performance, durability, and appearance of coating solutions. From controlling viscosity with rheology modifiers to stabilising pigments with dispersants, achieving low-gloss finishes with matting agents, improving adhesion with wetting agents, and providing water resistance with hydrophobic additives, each type plays an integral role in improving coatings for various applications.
The Rakem Group is committed to helping professionals in the coatings industry achieve exceptional results with our high-quality additives and expert guidance. Whether you’re looking to improve product performance, solve specific application challenges, or streamline your formulations, our team of specialists is here to support you.
Contact us today to find out more about our chemical distribution range, and discuss your unique requirements.
