Wetting and Dispersing Agents

Abstract

The incorporation of inorganic and organic particles into liquid resin media is an important process step in the paint, graphic arts and plastics industries. Various classes of wetting and dispersing agents are used for this purpose. The physical principles, chemistry and stabilisation mechanisms for both water- and solvent-based applications are described. A focus is directed towards the molecular architecture of high molecular weight dispersants, which exhibit superior and more universal characteristics than low molecular weight wetting agents. A preview of future developments in this field completes this overview.

Keywords

• Amphiphilic polymers
• Colloid stabilisation
• Dispersing agents
• Living polymerisation
• Pigment dispersion
• Wetting agents