Surface modification with multi-functional additives

 
"This study explores the development and application of multi-functional polymeric surface-active additives in modifying coating surfaces to enhance their properties. These additives are designed to adsorb at the coating interface, effectively reducing surface and interfacial tension, which plays a critical role in improving several key properties of coatings, including appearance, substrate wetting, levelling, friction and adhesion. Three additive groups will be presented: PU adhesion promoters, which create a chemically reactive surface during curing, forming permanent bonds between the primer and polyurethane foam or topcoats. This improved adhesion also contributes to the structural integrity of insulated panels. A UV adhesion promoter, formulated to optimize the adhesion of UV-curing inks to primer surfaces. By reducing the interfacial tension between the primer and UV-curing ink, it facilitates better wetting and cross-linking, leading to significantly improved ink adhesion and durability. An anti-dirt pick up additive particularly effective in reducing dirt pick-up on exterior cladding by increasing surface hydrophilicity and preventing the permanent adsorption of hydrophobic dirt. Development and application testing of each additive type will be presented, alongside other interesting applications discovered by end-users. This research underlines the importance of selecting appropriate additives to achieve targeted surface functionalities, demonstrating their utility in applications ranging from protective exterior coatings to specialized industrial applications. Incorporating multi-functional additives into coating formulations can significantly enhance their performance, providing a competitive advantage in terms of longevity and quality in various end-use scenarios."