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The difference between leveling agent and flow agent
The widely used terms flow and leveling are two completely different phenomena that are influenced by different chemical structures. Organosiloxane-based products provide flow control, while acrylic products improve leveling.
First, the flow (provided by the polysiloxane mechanism) is to avoid interfacial tension problems and surface texture interference.
A. Controlling interfacial tension at multiple interfaces
1. Substrate
2. The surface of the paint film
3. Paint film interface (in multi-coating system)
B. Avoid turbulence (including eddy and flow within the coating; local inter-pigment flow and rheological flow)
Second. Leveling (provided by the acrylic structure) makes it possible to obtain the smallest surface area possible
A. Higher surface tension
B. Equilibrium surface tension at the gas-liquid interface
C. Avoid surface ripples
Starting with these basic concepts, we can analyze the different uses of two types of chemical structures in relation to their ability to address coating defects.
