Leveling agent, as an indispensable functional additive in liquid materials such as coatings, inks, adhesives, etc., its main function is to improve the leveling and uniformity of the material's surface after construction, eliminate or reduce surface defects such as orange peel, brush marks, pinholes, etc. According to their chemical structure and mechanism of action, leveling agents can be divided into several categories, including organosilicon, modified acrylic, fluorocarbon, and high boiling point solvents.

The mechanism of action of leveling agents is complex and diverse, mainly including reducing surface tension, promoting liquid flow, and regulating wetting properties. Specifically, the active ingredients in the leveling agent molecules can adsorb onto the interface between liquid and solid, forming a uniform thin film that reduces surface energy and promotes the uniform spreading and flow of liquid on the solid surface. At the same time, some leveling agents can also form tiny network structures inside the liquid, improve the cohesion of the liquid, and reduce the formation of bubbles and pinholes.

Leveling agents are widely used in various fields such as coatings, inks, adhesives, resins, and plastic processing. In the coating industry, leveling agents are the key to improving coating quality; In the ink industry, leveling agents help improve the smoothness and glossiness of printed materials; In the field of adhesives, leveling agents can improve the spreading and bonding strength of adhesives.

The main indicators for evaluating the performance of leveling agents include surface tension reduction ability, leveling efficiency, anti shrinkage porosity, drying speed, adaptability to substrates, and compatibility with other additives. In addition, environmental friendliness, stability, and cost-effectiveness are also important aspects that cannot be ignored in evaluating the performance of leveling agents.

With the increasingly strict environmental regulations and consumers' higher requirements for product quality, the leveling agent industry is developing towards environmental protection, high performance, and multifunctionality. Environmentally friendly products such as bio based leveling agents, water-based leveling agents, and low VOC leveling agents will gradually become the mainstream in the market. Meanwhile, the development of leveling agents with better leveling effects and a wider range of applications through molecular design and modification techniques is also a key focus of future research.