Industrial wetting agents are the core interface additives in water-based industrial formulations, belonging to special surfactants. Their core functions are to reduce the surface and interface tension of the system, reduce the solid-liquid contact angle, and enhance the spreading and penetration ability of liquids. They are widely used in water-based coatings, industrial cleaning, printing and dyeing paper making, building materials slurry, fine chemicals and other fields. Compared to thickeners that regulate the rheological viscosity of the system, wetting agents focus on optimizing interfacial performance, mainly solving common industry problems such as substrate shrinkage, needle holes, uneven spreading, poor substrate wetting, poor adhesion, and insufficient pigment infiltration.
At present, the mainstream industrial wetting agents can be divided into four categories: organosilicon, alkynediol, anionic/non-ionic ordinary surfactants, and special modified polyether. There are significant differences in static wetting, dynamic wetting, foam inhibition, compatibility, acid and alkali resistance, and low foam properties among different categories. In actual industrial formulations, wetting agents are often synergistically compounded with dispersants, thickeners, and defoamers to balance pigment dispersion, substrate wetting, system stability, and construction aesthetics. They are key additives that ensure the quality of water-based formulation film formation and the stability of finished products. This article systematically integrates the mechanism of action, category characteristics, mass production formula, selection parameters, and fault solutions of wetting agents, forming a complete and practical technical material system.
2、 Classification, mechanism and core summary of mainstream industrial wetting agents
1. Polyether modified silicone wetting agent
Core Summary: Currently, the most versatile high-end wetting agent for water-based coatings, relying on the ultra-low surface tension characteristics of the siloxane main chain, can achieve ultimate substrate wetting and adapt to difficult to wet substrates (plastics, metals, smooth old paint films). High wetting efficiency, excellent spreading effect, and good film flatness make it the preferred additive for high gloss and mirror industrial paints. Shortboard refers to the tendency of excessive addition to cause shrinkage and foam stability issues, as well as poor foam inhibition in some systems.
Mechanism of action: The molecular structure includes hydrophobic siloxane segments and hydrophilic polyether segments, which can quickly adsorb directionally at the solid-liquid interface, significantly reduce interfacial tension, narrow the solid-liquid contact angle, eliminate liquid shrinkage and pore shrinkage phenomena, and achieve uniform spreading in all directions.
2. Acetylene glycol based wetting agents (AD series)
Core Summary: High end non foaming/low foaming dynamic wetting agent, with excellent comprehensive performance in the industry, combining the characteristics of strong dynamic wetting, built-in foam suppression, no stable foam, low shrinkage, and excellent compatibility. Suitable for high shear spraying and high-speed roller coating construction scenarios, it can solve the problems of pinholes, orange peel, and local exposure caused by insufficient dynamic wetting during spraying and atomization. It is widely used in high-end industrial paints, wood paints, and precision water-based formulas. The price is relatively high, with slightly better static wetting ability than ordinary surfactants and weaker than high-end silicone.
Mechanism of action: With a special rigid alkyne molecular structure, the interface adsorption rate is extremely fast, and under high shear conditions, the interface active molecules can be quickly replenished to maintain stable wetting effect; The molecule has no accumulation of long hydrophobic carbon chains, making it difficult to encapsulate bubbles and achieving a balance between dynamic wetting and low foaming performance.
3. Anionic/non-ionic common wetting agents (AEO, sulfonate salts)
Core Summary: An economical universal wetting agent with mature technology and high cost-effectiveness, suitable for middle and low-end systems such as ordinary building coatings, industrial cleaning agents, and printing and dyeing slurries. Good wetting and penetration ability, excellent alkali resistance, suitable for high alkali formulations. The short board is characterized by large amount of foam, poor dynamic wetting, and high gloss system prone to film defects, which is not suitable for high-end thin coating and high gloss finish.
Mechanism of action: By relying on the ionization/hydration of hydrophilic groups and the adsorption of hydrophobic groups at the interface, the surface tension of the system is reduced, achieving basic spreading and permeation. The molecular structure is simple, the interface response speed is slow, and it is only suitable for static and low shear conditions.
4. Special polyether modified wetting agent
Core abstract: The modified wetting agent specially developed for high salt, high alkali and high solid content systems has excellent electrolyte resistance and temperature resistance, extremely low foam, and is suitable for thick paste coatings, water-based putty and industrial cleaning strong alkali systems. Balancing multiple effects of wetting, slight dispersion, and foam inhibition, the compound has strong compatibility and no side effects.
3、 Core formula paragraph for industrial mass production (can be directly copied and used)
Formula 1: High end High gloss Industrial Paint Wetting System (Organic Silicon+Acetylene Glycol Compound)
Basic formula components (by weight): 380 parts of deionized water, 400 parts of pure acrylic lotion, 150 parts of rutile titanium dioxide, 10 parts of dispersant, 0.3 parts of thickener (HEUR), 18 parts of film forming additives, 0.2 – 0.4 parts of wetting agent compound system, and appropriate amount of defoamer.
Process plan: Adopting a complex wetting system of “0.15% polyether organosilicon+0.15% alkyne diol”, and adding at low speed in the later stage of paint adjustment. Organosilicon is responsible for the ultimate static substrate wetting and elimination of shrinkage defects, while alkynediol is responsible for enhancing the high shear dynamic wetting effect of spray coating and suppressing microbubble generation. This compound solution is perfectly suitable for high gloss mirror finish paint films, with high flatness, no orange peel, no pinholes, and excellent adhesion, solving the problems of single organic silicon easily stabilizing foam and insufficient spreading of single acetylene glycol.
Formula 2: Thick paste texture/real stone paint wetting system (special polyether wetting agent)
Basic formula components (by weight): 300 parts of deionized water, 280 parts of elastic acrylic lotion, 350 parts of quartz sand aggregate, 0.5 parts of HY-390 thickener, 7 parts of dispersant, 0.3 – 0.5 parts of wetting agent, and appropriate amount of defoamer.
Process plan: Select a special low foaming polyether wetting agent and add it synchronously with the filler during the dispersion stage. In view of the problems of large specific surface area of thick paste aggregate, poor wetting, blooming, layering and local exposure, the wetting agent can quickly soak the surface of quartz sand and filler, improve the dispersion uniformity of powder, enhance the binding force of aggregate and lotion, improve the compactness and weather resistance of paint film, and adapt to HY-390 high thixotropic system, without foam and compatibility conflict.
Formula 3: Industrial Strong Alkali Cleaning System Moisturizing Formula (Anionic Alkali Resistant Moisturizing Agent)
Basic formula components (by mass): 550 parts deionized water, 100 parts strong alkali additive, 80 parts surfactant, 3-5 parts alkali resistant anionic wetting agent, and an appropriate amount of corrosion inhibitor.
Process plan: Select high alkali resistant sulfonic acid salt wetting agents, adapt to high pH strong alkali cleaning systems, and solve the problems of high surface tension, poor spreading of cleaning solution, weak penetration, and uneven cleaning of strong alkali systems. Improve the penetration and wetting ability of the cleaning solution to oil, dust and stubborn stains, greatly improve the cleaning efficiency, and ensure no foam accumulation, precipitation and system stability.
| Moisturizing agent category | Wetting performance | Dynamic wetting (spraying/high shear) | Foam characteristics | Acid alkali/salt resistance | Core advantages | Shortboard defects | Adaptation scenario | Reference addition amount |
| Polyether modified organosilicon | Extremely excellent, ultra-low surface tension | Good | Slightly stable foaming, excessive foaming is prone to occur | Medium, not resistant to extremely strong electrolytes
|
Excellent substrate spreading, elimination of shrinkage, high smoothness of paint film, strong adhesion | Adding low fault tolerance, easy to stabilize bubbles, and high prices
|
High gloss industrial paint, automotive paint, wood paint, difficult to wet substrate system
|
0.1%–0.3% |
| Acetylene glycol (AD)
|
Excellent, balanced and stable
|
Top tier excellence, suitable for high shear construction
|
Low foam, self-contained foam suppression, no stable foam
|
Good, resistant to conventional acids and bases
|
Dynamic wetting strength, no microbubbles, no orange peel, extremely strong compatibility, and minimal paint film defects | The ultimate static wetting is slightly weaker than organic silicon and has a higher cost
|
High end spray paint, precision water-based coating, thin coating high gloss system
|
0.1%–0.3% |
| Anionic ordinary wetting agent | Medium, basic wetting meets the standard
|
Poor, prone to wetting and failure due to high shear
|
High foaming, requires the use of defoamers
|
Excellent, resistant to strong alkali
|
High cost-effectiveness, excellent alkali resistance, and wide adaptability | Large foam, poor dynamic performance, easy to affect high gloss paint film
|
Industrial cleaning agents, ordinary interior wall paint, printing and dyeing slurry, low-end thick slurry system
|
0.3%–0.8% |
| Non ionic AEO wetting agents
|
Medium to high, strong penetration | General
|
Medium high foam
|
Generally, not resistant to high salt
|
Penetrating and wetting properties, good compatibility, and low price | Many foam residues, easy to delaminate at high temperature
|
Universal water-based pulp, paper coating, and ordinary water-based additive system | 0.2%–0.6% |
| Special polyether low foaming wetting agent
|
Good, suitable for powder system
|
Good | Extremely low foam, no stable foam
|
Excellent, salt, alkali, and temperature resistant | Suitable for high solid content aggregate systems, auxiliary dispersion, and no side effects | The ultimate spreading is weaker than organic silicon and acetylene glycol real stone paint, textured paint, water-based putty, and high solid content thick paste system | Genuine stone paint, textured paint, water-based putty, high solid content thick paste system
|
0.3%–0.5% |
4、 Common construction and formula troubleshooting solutions (exclusive for wetting agents)
1. Shrinkage, pinholes, and partial exposure of the paint film
Core reasons: high surface tension of the system, insufficient wetting of the substrate, and uneven local interfacial tension. Solution: Replace or compound a small amount of organic silicon/alkyne diol wetting agent to enhance dynamic and static wetting ability; Reduce the amount of high foam ordinary surface active material to avoid interface contamination and shrinkage.
2. Spraying construction results in orange peel, uneven leveling, and low smoothness of the paint film
Core reason: Failure of high shear dynamic wetting and delayed liquid spreading speed during atomization. Solution: Replace some ordinary wetting agents with acetylene glycol wetting agents to enhance high shear dynamic wetting performance, and optimize rheology with HEUR thickening agents to balance leveling and wetting.
3. Poor wetting, discoloration, color difference, and weak adhesion of thick slurry coating aggregates
Core reason: The powder has a large specific surface area, insufficient infiltration of wetting agents, and uneven dispersion of the powder. Solution: Select a special polyether low foaming wetting agent, feed in advance during the dispersion stage, and use a synergistic effect with the dispersant to fully wet the surface of quartz sand and fillers, improving the uniformity of the system.
4. Too much foam in the system, difficulty in defoaming, and residual microbubbles
Core reasons: Misuse of high foaming anions, AEO type wetting agents, or excessive addition of organic silicon wetting agents. Solution: Replace with alkynediol and low foaming polyether wetting agents, strictly control the amount of organosilicon added, and use efficient defoamers to eliminate stable and accumulated foam problems.
5. Wetting failure, viscosity fluctuation, and system stratification in high alkali/high salt systems
Core reason: Ordinary wetting agents lack electrolyte and alkali resistance, leading to molecular structure deactivation and precipitation. Solution: Replace with alkali resistant anionic or specially modified polyether wetting agents to avoid conventional non-ionic surface activity and ensure extreme system interface stability.
Post time: Aug-19-2026