With the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the increasingly stringent laws and regulations, water-based coatings have gradually become the mainstream in the coatings industry market due to their low VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. However, water-based coatings often face more challenges in terms of leveling performance, which places higher demands on the selection and use of leveling agents.

We all know that water possesses strong surface tension, which, to some extent, restricts the fluidity of paints, easily leading to shrinkage cavities and orange peel effects. Moreover, the water content in water-based paints is incompatible with many traditional leveling agent components, which can easily lead to stratification or precipitation. Water-based paints typically have a faster drying time, which means that the time available for leveling agents to take effect is limited. At the same time, environmental factors such as temperature and humidity also have a significant impact on the leveling effect of water-based paints.

In response to this series of issues, the leveling agent industry has developed specialized leveling agents for water-based coatings, such as modified acrylic or polymer-based leveling agents, which can effectively reduce the surface tension of water-based coatings while maintaining relatively good compatibility. By adjusting the solvent ratio and the type of thickener in the coating formulation, the dispersibility and stability of the leveling agent can be improved. Using a slow-drying agent or adjusting drying conditions can extend the open time, providing more working time for the leveling agent. Additionally, the amount and type of leveling agent can be flexibly adjusted according to the specific conditions of the construction environment to adapt to different environmental and climatic conditions.

In practical applications, combining specific water-based paint systems and construction requirements, screening the most suitable leveling agent combination through laboratory testing is the key to achieving good leveling performance of water-based paints. In addition, regularly evaluating and adjusting formulations to adapt to market changes and technological advancements is also a necessary measure to maintain the future competitiveness of leveling agent products.