Coatings

DISPERBYK®

BYK-Chemie

One of the most important steps in the production of pigmented coatings is the homogeneous distribution of solid pigments within the liquid binder solution. If this pigment grinding step is not optimized, then a wide variety of defects can occur. Wetting additives accelerate the wetting of pigment agglomerates by the resin; dispersing additives improve the stabilization of the pigment dispersion. One and the same product can oftentimes function as both the wetting and the dispersing additive. Dispersing additives absorb onto the pigment surface and therefore maintain proper pigment spacing through electrostatic repulsion and/or steric hindrance, thus reducing the tendency towards uncontrolled flocculation.

DISPERBYK® product range offers several high molecular weight polymeric wetting and dispersing additives. For example, it is possible to use in solvent borne systems products from the DISPERBYK®-160 family (DISPERBYK®-161, DISPERBYK®-163 or DISPERBYK®-167), from the DISPERBYK®-170 family or special additives for inorganic pigments, especially titanium dioxide (DISPERBYK®-110, DISPERBYK®-180). Additives from the DISPERBYK®-190 family (DISPERBYK®-190, DISPERBYK®-191, DISPERBYK®-194, DISPERBYK®-198) are first choices for aqueous systems.

Modern Polymerization Methods (CRP) enable a very high control of the copolymer’s finestructure and can be used to polymerize a wide range of monomers under controlled conditions. Newer products such as DISPERBYK®-2010, DISPERBYK®-2015 and DISPERBYK®-2059 (for aqueous systems), DISPERBYK®-2025 and DISPERBYK®-2155 (for solvent-borne systems) as well as DISPERBYK®-2009 (for solvent-free matting agents paste) make full use of the possibilities that modern CRP methods offer today.