I. Types and Functions of Additives

1. Types of adjuvants

(1) Classification by function of adjuvants

① Additives that improve the processing performance of coatings, including wetting agents, dispersants, defoamers, and anti-skinning agents.

② Additives that improve the storage and transportation performance of coatings: anti-settling agents, anti-skinning agents, anti-gelling agents, anti-mildew and anti-corrosion agents, and freeze-thaw stabilizers.

③ Additives that improve the application performance of coatings, such as thixotropic agents, anti-sagging agents, and resistance modifiers.

④ Additives that promote curing and film formation properties, such as drying agents, curing accelerators, photosensitizers, photoinitiators, and film-forming aids.

⑤ Additives that improve coating performance: adhesion promoters, leveling agents, anti-floating and anti-blooming agents, anti-cracking agents, gloss enhancers, slip agents, anti-scratch agents, anti-blocking agents, and light stabilizers.

⑥ Additives that give coatings special functions, such as flame retardants, mildew inhibitors, stain inhibitors, conductive agents, insecticides, and ultraviolet absorbers or shielding agents.

⑦ Water-based system-specific additives mainly include emulsion agents and emulsion stabilizers, film-forming aids, thickeners, flash rust inhibitors, and freeze-thaw stabilizers.

(2) Classification by auxiliary agent structure

① The main additives with interfacial activity include wetting agents, dispersants, anti-floating color and color blooming agents, leveling agents, defoamers, emulsifiers, and anti-settling agents.

② Non-interfacial active additives mainly include accelerators, drying agents, matting agents, plasticizers, mildew inhibitors, preservatives, antifouling agents, flame retardants, conductive agents, photosensitizers, thixotropic agents, anti-skinning agents, anti-blocking agents, and adhesion promoters.

③ The main nano-additives include nano-Al2O3, nano-SiO2, nano-TiO2, nano-Fe2O3, nano-CaCO3, nano-ZnO, nano-rare earth oxides, nano-transparent iron oxide, and nano-carbon nanotubes.

2. The role of adjuvants

Additives are an important component of coatings. They are used in small quantities but have significant effects, benefiting coating manufacturing, storage, transportation, and application, and significantly improving the performance of the molded materials. However, improper use or dosage can have negative effects on coating performance. Additives in coatings can improve the processability, storage, and workability of the coating; prevent defects such as edge shrinkage, pinholes, floating color, and mottling; increase coating gloss, prevent aging, improve adhesion, extend coating service life, and add special functions to the coating.

3. Advances in the application technology of adjuvants

In recent years, based on the relationship between the structure and performance of additives, the application characteristics of additives, such as sensitivity, selectivity, highlighting effect, synergistic effect, and additive additive effect, have been explored and utilized. Through the interaction and fusion of several additives, the application efficiency of additives has been improved, and the application fields of additives have been expanded. By correctly selecting the types, dosages, and ratios of additives and adopting effective technical measures and formulation techniques, a matched additive system with positive effects, exhibiting essential characteristics, and ensuring stable application has been developed. The successful application of new performance-matching additives represents innovation and practice in additive application technology and concepts, acts as a booster for improving material quality, and demonstrates new ideas for developing new coating varieties. The development and application of composite (or matched) additives have enhanced the application efficacy of additives, expanded their application space, and made the multi-functionality and multi-effect of additives a reality. Composite or matched additives are a hot topic and a guiding light in additive development and application.

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