Wetting agents and leveling agents, as key additives in industrial fields such as coatings, inks, adhesives, etc., play important roles in modern industry.

The advantages of wetting agents mainly lie in their ability to significantly reduce the surface tension of liquids, making them easier to spread on the surface of substrates, especially on high-energy surfaces (such as glass and ceramics) or low surface energy substrates (such as PP and PE), reducing defects such as shrinkage and fisheye. By improving the permeability of the liquid to the substrate, wetting agents enhance the contact area between the coating or adhesive and the substrate, thereby increasing adhesion and reducing the risk of delamination. In pigment or filler dispersion systems, wetting agents help the particle surface to be quickly enveloped by liquid, prevent agglomeration, improve dispersion uniformity and storage stability. Wetting agents can accelerate liquid penetration and improve processing efficiency for porous substrates such as paper and fibers. They can also achieve uniform coverage on hydrophobic surfaces such as silicone and oily metals, making them suitable for diverse substrates.

The advantages of leveling agents mainly lie in adjusting the flowability and rheological properties of coatings, reducing surface defects such as brush marks and orange peel, and obtaining smooth and high gloss coatings, especially suitable for high appearance requirements such as automobiles and electronics. In processes such as spraying and roller coating, leveling agents allow for a wider range of construction parameters (such as film thickness and drying speed), reducing sensitivity to the operating environment and improving the yield of excellent products. Some leveling agents also have anti-static and anti adhesion properties, making them suitable for special scenarios (such as electronic coatings and packaging films).

Wetting agent and leveling agent both play their respective advantages in modern industry. Therefore, the combination of wetting agent and leveling agent can solve many complex problems in modern industry. For example, wetting agent can ensure that the substrate is fully wetted, and leveling agent can then adjust the fluidity of the coating. Together, they can achieve the whole process quality control from the substrate to the surface, which can greatly reduce rework and waste rate, reduce raw material waste, and reduce production costs. Wetting agents and leveling agents significantly enhance the quality, efficiency, and applicability of industrial products by improving the interaction between liquids and substrates and the rheological behavior of coatings. With the upgrading of new materials and environmental requirements, the importance of these two types of additives in formula design will be further highlighted.