Industrial Coating Additives

Orientation for industrial coating additives: matching additive function to the coating defect or property target, with compatibility and trial checks.

Buyer summary

What it is: Functional ingredients, usually added at well under a few percent of the formulation, that control a coating's behaviour in manufacture, storage, application and film formation.
Main applications: Industrial, architectural, wood and plastic coatings, inks and varnishes. Typical families are defoamers, dispersants, wetting and levelling, slip and rheology additives.
Critical purchasing specifications: The defect or property target, and the binder system
Rheology targets at the relevant shear rates (for example ASTM D4287 high-shear viscosity)
Active and as-supplied basis, and dosage
VOC, food-contact or PFAS restrictions
Qualification considerations: Change one function at a time against a control. Additive interactions are real, such as wetters stabilising foam or defoamers causing craters.
First step: Describe the formulation, the defect or function, and any regulatory constraints.
How PAXOMER can assist: Coating additives are chosen against a formulation, not in isolation. PAXOMER can help you define the defect or function, the binder system and the regulatory constraints, identify additive manufacturers with suitable technologies, and coordinate ladder studies. Where a fit exists we can support manufacturer-level supply and pricing discussions for your pack sizes and volumes. Manufacturer identification, qualification support and pricing discussions depend on manufacturer confirmation, specifications, quantities and terms.

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Detailed technical guidance, data tables, FAQs and technical references follow below.

Regulated uses. Food-contact, drinking-water, medical, pharmaceutical, electrical, fire-rated and other regulated uses need documentation and approvals for the exact product, use and market. This page is general information and confirms none of them; request the evidence in writing.

General technical information published by PAXOMER Inc. to support preliminary material evaluation. It is compiled from the sources cited on this page and has not been independently reviewed or certified by a professional engineer, laboratory or certification body. Values marked typical, illustrative or requiring confirmation are not specifications. Confirm properties, standard editions, regulatory status and suitability for your specific application with the manufacturer and, where the use is regulated or safety-related, with a qualified professional or the relevant authority.

Coating additives are small-dose materials that fix specific problems in a paint, ink or coating without being the binder, pigment or solvent: foam in production, a pigment that will not disperse or keeps flocculating, a liquid that will not wet the substrate, a film that does not level, a paint that sags or settles. Each problem belongs to a different function, and the commonest mistake is to treat one additive as a cure for another function’s problem. This page is a selection map: it separates the functions, shows the measurements that distinguish them and sets out how to qualify an additive package without losing the control.

It is general technical orientation for formulators, converters, ink and coating manufacturers and purchasing teams. It is not a formulation recommendation and does not state that PAXOMER stocks, represents or has qualified any product.

A. Product identity and terminology

1. What are industrial coating additives?

Coating additives are functional ingredients added, usually at well under a few percent of the formulation, to a coating, ink or varnish to control its behaviour during manufacture, storage, application or film formation. Common families are defoamers and deaerators, wetting and dispersing additives for pigments, substrate-wetting and leveling additives, slip and anti-blocking additives, rheology modifiers (thickeners and anti-settling agents), and film-property additives such as matting agents or UV stabilisers. A functional architecture helps avoid using a surface additive to compensate for dispersion, rheology or contamination problems (guide quick answer, “Specialty Coating Additives”).

2. Which additive function matches which problem?

Additive functions, typical problems and what to check first
Function	Problem it addresses	Check first
Defoamer / deaerator	Foam or entrained air during production, pumping or application	Whether it is surface foam or micro-air; shear and air entry
Wetting and dispersing additive (pigment)	Pigment incorporation, flocculation, colour strength, viscosity	Fineness, colour development, viscosity drift on ageing
Substrate wetting / surface additive	Beading, crawling, craters, poor spreading	Substrate cleanliness and surface energy; contamination
Leveling and flow additive	Orange peel, brush marks, poor leveling	Film thickness, viscosity, drying speed
Rheology modifier / anti-settling	Sag, settling, poor flow, spatter, poor film build	Viscosity at low, mid and high shear, recovery
Slip, anti-blocking, mar	Surface friction, blocking, scratching	The actual contact pair and the next operation

Compare Substrate wetting versus pigment dispersion. Related pages: Industrial defoamers and antifoams and Silicone surface-control additives.

3. What names and abbreviations will I meet?

Wetting agent, dispersant, dispersing agent, grind aid, flow additive, leveling agent, anti-crater additive, slip additive, rub-out, thickener, associative thickener, HEUR (hydrophobically modified ethylene oxide urethane), HASE (hydrophobically modified alkali-swellable emulsion), cellulosics, anti-sag, anti-settling, thixotrope, PVC (pigment volume concentration), KU (Krebs units), ICI viscosity (high-shear cone and plate) and Hegman gauge (fineness of grind). Glossary: rheology, wetting, cratering.

4. Where are these additives used?

Architectural and industrial paints, wood and plastic coatings, automotive OEM and repair coatings, printing inks and overprint varnishes, adhesives and sealants, and construction chemicals. Manufacturer literature lists applications such as solvent-borne, solvent-free and aqueous coatings, printing inks, adhesive systems, and ambient-curing polyurethane and epoxy systems for individual products (data sheets are grade-specific). For printing inks and varnishes see also the guide Printing inks, coatings and functional additives.

5. When is an additive the right fix, and when not?

Reasonable candidates: a defect that is traced to one function (for example flocculation, foam, a surface-tension mismatch or sag), a performance target outside the base formulation’s reach, or a cost saving such as lower grinding energy or higher pigment loading.

Not a cure for: contaminated substrates, poor preparation, wrong solvent balance, unsuitable binder, equipment problems or undefined measurement. A wet film can look uniform and still develop storage instability or cured-film defects, and no additive family alone establishes corrosion protection (guide section “What limitations and tradeoffs affect selection?”).

B. Properties and performance

6. How does pigment dispersion work, and what does a dispersant do?

A trade article describes three steps: wetting (displacing air, liquids and contaminants from the pigment surface), particle-size reduction (mechanical deagglomeration), and stabilisation, in which the dispersant adsorbs on the particles to prevent re-agglomeration; it notes that a normal dispersion process has some reversibility (S2). Stabilisation can be electrostatic (charged dispersant, less stable in high-electrolyte conditions), steric (anchoring group plus solvated polymer chains, not affected by high electrolyte) or electrosteric, a combination (S2). A dispersant therefore needs an anchoring group matched to the pigment surface and a stabilising chain matched to the medium.

7. What evidence shows that a dispersant is working?

The same article reports tests in which a polymeric dispersant gave lower viscosity at the same pigment loading in nonaqueous binder (organic pigments at 14–17 wt%, dispersed at 5,000 rpm for 5 min) and aqueous iron oxide at 70+ wt% with 2% dispersant on pigment, and it judged stability by viscosity after heat ageing, visual agglomeration or separation, outgassing and colour development as a percentage of a control (S2). The article reports lower viscosity as enabling higher solids loading, and shorter grind times for equal colour. It does not report fineness-of-grind or rub-out tests, so those need to be added in your own trial (S2).

Published test conditions for dispersion and rheology evidence

Conditions are those stated in the cited trade articles for their own studies. They are examples of how evidence is reported, not recommendations or properties of any product PAXOMER supplies.

Published test conditions for dispersion and rheology evidence
Property	Value or range	Unit	Test conditions	Test method	Grade or construction	Source	Verification status
Yellow organic pigment loading in a nonaqueous dispersion study	17	wt%	Dispersed at 5,000 rpm for 5 min; viscosity at 20 °C and after 67 h at 50 °C	Viscosity and visual inspection; fineness not reported	Polymeric dispersant (one manufacturer's study)	S2	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Orange organic pigment loadings in the same study	14	wt%	Dispersed at 5,000 rpm for 5 min; viscosity at 20 °C and after 50 h at 50 °C	Viscosity and visual inspection	Polymeric dispersant (one manufacturer's study)	S2	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Red iron oxide loading in an aqueous binder	70+	wt%	Dispersant 2 wt% on pigment; 1,500–4,000 rpm for 5 min; viscosity initially, after 5 days at 70 °C and after 5 days at 20 °C	Viscosity measurement	Polymeric dispersant (one manufacturer's study)	S2	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Pigment settling shear rate	as low as 0.001	s⁻¹	Low-shear region	Not applicable	General coating rheology	S1	Typical illustrative range
Brushing and spray application shear rate	10,000 or greater	s⁻¹	High-shear region	Not applicable	General coating rheology	S1	Typical illustrative range
High-shear viscosity of typical coatings	about 0.5–2.0 (50–200 mPa·s)	poise (mPa·s in brackets)	High shear	Cone/plate, Brookfield CAP2000 or ICI	Typical coatings	S1	Typical illustrative range
Mid-shear (Stormer/KU) viscosity of architectural paints	typically 90–120; full range 50–140	KU	KU-2 paddle at 200 rpm in a paint can	Krebs-unit (KU) viscometer	Architectural paints	S1	Typical illustrative range
High-shear viscosity measurement shear rate in ASTM D4287	12,000	s⁻¹	Cone/plate viscometer	ASTM D4287-00(2019); D4287-00R23 shown as the active version	Paints, varnishes and related products	S4	Verified reference value (published source)

8. What rheology modifiers exist, and which shear range does each affect?

A Dow-style article names three main chemistries: cellulosics (longest-used, still widely used for lower-sheen coatings), HASE emulsions (efficient, liquid products) and HEUR associative thickeners (for flow, leveling and gloss) (S1). It states that low shear governs pigment settling, brush and roller loading, in-can appearance, flow and leveling and sag; mid shear governs stirring, pumping and pouring and is a common QC measurement; and high shear governs brush drag, roller slip and spray back-pressure (S1). The practical conclusion: specify viscosity at three shear ranges, not one, and choose the modifier that moves the range you need without disturbing the others.

See also the guide Hydrophobic silica and rheology modifiers and the comparison Hydrophilic versus hydrophobic fumed silica.

9. What do fumed-silica rheology additives look like in data-sheet terms?

Evonik’s data sheet for AEROSIL R 972, a fumed silica after-treated with dimethyldichlorosilane (DDS), lists typical data of BET surface area 90–130 m²/g, tapped density about 50 g/L, carbon content 0.6–1.2 wt%, SiO₂ content 99.8–100.0 wt%, loss on drying at most 0.5 wt%, loss on ignition at most 2.0 wt% and pH 3.6–5.5 (4% dispersion), with a 2-year shelf life in 10 kg multi-layer bags; the page states these are typical values, not specifications, and names no test methods (S3). Recommended uses include rheology control of complex liquid systems, anti-settling in coatings with pigment stabilisation, and hydrophobicising of liquid systems. The guide section “Read silica grade data without confusing particle scales” explains why surface area alone does not establish equivalence between grades.

Typical data for one hydrophobic fumed silica grade

One grade from one manufacturer, as an example of data-sheet content. Typical values, not specifications; the exact grade and lot determine properties.

Typical data for one hydrophobic fumed silica grade
Property	Value or range	Unit	Test conditions	Test method	Grade or construction	Source	Verification status
BET specific surface area	90–130	m²/g	Typical value	Not stated in source	AEROSIL R 972 (DDS-treated fumed silica)	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Tapped density	50	g/L	Typical value	Not stated in source	AEROSIL R 972	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Carbon content	0.6–1.2	wt%	Typical value	Not stated in source	AEROSIL R 972	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
SiO₂ content, ignited material	99.8–100.0	wt%	Typical value	Not stated in source	AEROSIL R 972	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Loss on drying, maximum	0.5	wt%	Typical value	Not stated in source	AEROSIL R 972	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Loss on ignition, maximum	2.0	wt%	Typical value	Not stated in source	AEROSIL R 972	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
pH of 4% dispersion	3.6–5.5	pH	4% dispersion	Not stated in source	AEROSIL R 972	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)
Shelf life	2	years	Closed multi-layer 10 kg bags, dry storage	Not applicable	AEROSIL R 972	S3	Manufacturer-specific value (one grade)

10. What surface-tension numbers govern substrate wetting?

BASF’s brochure gives example surface tensions: water 72, ethylene glycol 48, xylene 32 and butyl acetate 28 mN/m; resins melamine 58, epoxy 47, polyester 41 and long-oil alkyd 26 mN/m; and substrate surface energies glass 70, PVC 40, polyethylene 33 and polypropylene 28 mN/m. Wetting is favoured when the liquid’s surface tension is lower than the substrate’s surface energy, and the brochure notes that leveling time is proportional to viscosity and inversely proportional to surface tension and to the cube of film thickness (S6). The detail is on the page Silicone surface-control additives.

11. How do defoamer families fit into a coating?

BYK’s article describes mineral-oil defoamers as cost-efficient and best suited to high-PVC, low-gloss formulations, silicone defoamers as costlier with stability suffering at extreme pH (best at about pH 5–9) and polymeric defoamers as usable across about pH 3–12 and easier to incorporate; it states that too much shear over-compatibilises a defoamer and too little leaves it undispersed and causing craters (S7). Details and tests are on the page Industrial defoamers and antifoams.

12. How do additives interact with one another?

Interactions explain many “mystery” defects. Strong silicone wetters tend to stabilise foam, so a defoamer is added, which may in turn cause craters; a dispersant changes pigment surface state and so the demand for wetting additives and the viscosity profile; a rheology modifier’s structure can trap bubbles or hinder leveling; and a slip additive can impair recoat adhesion. BASF rates polysiloxanes as foam-stabilising and with a high possibility of intercoat adhesion problems (S6). Therefore change one function at a time, keep an untreated reference and, where combined changes are unavoidable, name the changed package explicitly (guide section “How should multiple coating additives be changed without losing a useful control?”).

13. How do cure and temperature affect additives?

Cure chemistry and bake temperature can limit additive choice. BASF states that polyether modifications on organomodified silicones begin to decompose at about 140–150 °C, with decomposition products that may include unmodified silicone oil and harm intercoat adhesion, and suggests alkyl-modified silicones for higher-temperature applications (S6). Radiation-curing and two-pack systems have their own compatibility windows; confirm in the data sheet whether the grade is suitable for the cure system, whether it is reactive, and how it behaves after cure. Dispersants and thickeners may also change cure speed or film hardness in some systems; verify in a cure study.

C. Manufacturing and processing

14. How are additives incorporated in manufacturing?

The stage matters: dispersants and pigment-wetting additives go in the grind or millbase; rheology modifiers and leveling additives are often added at let-down; defoamers may be added in both. BYK states that highly effective, high-shear-demanding defoamers are generally added in the grind and easier ones at let-down (S7). Fumed silica needs adequate dispersion energy and supplier guidance; Evonik’s other literature notes powders require dispersion with high-shear equipment. Record the addition sequence, mixing equipment, energy, time and temperature of every trial.

15. What coating defects point to which function?

Defect, possible functional causes and what to check
Observed defect	Functional areas to examine	Typical check
Foam, pinholes	Foam control, entrained air, film thickness, drying	Foam test and density; dry-film inspection
Craters, fish eyes	Contamination, defoamer compatibility, surface-tension mismatch	Remove additive in a controlled trial; substrate check
Flooding, floating, colour change	Pigment dispersion and stabilisation, flocculation	Rub-out test, colour development, fineness
Sag, runs	Low-shear viscosity, recovery	Low-shear viscosity and thixotropic recovery
Settling in can	Anti-settling structure, particle size, density	Storage test at defined temperature
Orange peel, brush marks	Leveling, viscosity at high shear, drying speed	High-shear viscosity, film thickness, solvent balance
Poor recoat adhesion	Surface additives, cure interval, layer compatibility	Recoat test after defined ageing
Poor wetting on plastic	Surface tension versus substrate surface energy	Dyne or contact-angle check; surface treatment

Source basis: S2, S6, S7 and the guide section “Connect coating defects to the correct additive function”.

16. How does the application method change additive requirements?

Brushing, rolling and spraying place the coating in the high-shear regime (10,000 s⁻¹ or greater according to S1), curtain coating and printing add short interface-creation times, and dip or flow coating run at low shear with long drainage. Select and test additives at the shear and timescale of the actual method. A laboratory drawdown may not reproduce spray atomisation or flexographic printing.

D. Applications and qualification

17. How should additive samples be selected?

Select candidates by function, from at least two chemistries when feasible, and request grade-specific data sheets and the manufacturer’s compatibility guidance for your binder, pigment and process. Design a small trial matrix with predefined observations rather than changing several additives at once (guide section “Which manufacturer documents support the purchasing decision?”). Ask for sample quantities that suit laboratory ladders, and retain samples with batch numbers.

18. How should an additive trial be run and recorded?

Evidence at successive process stages
Stage	Observe	Diagnostic distinction
Dispersion	Fineness, particle state, colour and viscosity stability	Particle stabilisation versus substrate wetting
Application	Flow at relevant shear, foam, wet thickness	Bulk rheology versus surface behaviour
Cure and next operation	Cured-film appearance, adhesion, recoat or print	Wet appearance versus finished interface
Ageing and storage	Viscosity drift, separation, foam return	Initial versus persistent effect
Scale-up	Production incorporation, lot-to-lot	Repeatability

Source basis: guide section “Coating-additive evidence at successive process stages”.

19. Which documents should be requested?

Current technical data sheet and safety data sheet for the exact grade; composition or function description; active and as-supplied basis; incorporation instructions; storage and shelf life; change-notification terms; and written declarations for VOC, food contact, PFAS or other restrictions, each stating scope. Require “grade identity, revision-controlled TDS/SDS, declaration scope, representative trial results and agreed lot acceptance” (guide section “What evidence is required before approval?”). Data-sheet values are typical values unless stated as specifications.

20. Which test methods and standards are relevant?

Test methods used for coating data sheets and additive trials, with the source of each statement
Method	What it measures	Status and notes
ASTM D1210	Fineness of dispersion of pigment, read on a Hegman-type grind gauge	Named in a trade article; full title and current edition not read (S5).
ASTM D562	Low- to mid-shear viscosity with a Stormer viscometer, reported in KU	Named in a trade article; full title and current edition not read (S5).
ASTM D4287	High-shear viscosity with a cone/plate viscometer at 12,000 s⁻¹	D4287-00(2019) page is marked historical; D4287-00R23 shown as active (S4).
ASTM D523	Specular gloss at 20°, 60° or 85°	Named in a trade article; not read (S5).
ASTM D1331	Surface and interfacial tension of paints and surface-active solutions	See the page Silicone surface-control additives.

Method choice, acceptance limits and sample preparation must be agreed with a qualified laboratory; full standard text was not read for any entry.

21. What acceptance criteria are sensible?

Write criteria per function before the trial: fineness and colour development for dispersion; foam and density for foam control; contact angle or visible coverage for substrate wetting; viscosity at defined shear for rheology; and adhesion, gloss and appearance for the finished film. Include storage ageing and a second lot. The numerical limits belong to your specification; this page provides none. Record the dosage basis (as supplied or active; on total batch, binder solids or pigment).

22. What changes from laboratory to production?

Mixing energy, order of addition, temperature profile and residence time differ. Re-check viscosity at three shear ranges, foam, appearance and downstream behaviour on a production batch, and confirm lot-to-lot consistency before approving the supplier. Re-test after any package change.

E. Procurement, comparisons and decisions

23. Which commercial formats are common?

Liquids (neat, solutions, emulsions) in pails, drums or intermediate bulk containers; powders such as fumed silica in multi-layer bags (for example 10 kg, S3); and dispersions or pastes. Request active content, carrier, viscosity, density, container size, shelf life and hazard classification.

24. What information is needed to request a quotation?

Coating, ink or adhesive type; binder; pigment and filler; solvent and solids; cure.
Substrate and application process; defect photos or measurements.
The function wanted and the next operation (recoat, print, bond).
Current additive package; regulatory restrictions in writing.
Trial quantity, annual volume, packaging and destination.

Use the RFQ brief tool to assemble this in the browser.

25. What do purchasing teams usually ask?

What function does the grade perform and how is that proven; active content and cost per unit of active; what dose does our system need; typical-versus-specification values; shelf life; who manufactures it and where; how are formulation changes notified; and what regulatory declarations exist. Compare cost in use, including rejects, rework and qualification effort, not cost per kilogram alone.

26. How should I choose between additive families for one problem?

Start from the diagnosis: dispersion, foam, wetting, rheology or film property. For a given function, compare two or three chemistries and keep the same dosage basis. For example, on foam: mineral-oil versus silicone versus polymeric; on rheology: cellulosic versus HASE versus HEUR versus fumed silica; on dispersion: electrostatic versus steric chemistry in the actual medium. No family is universally best; every family has a compatibility window (S1, S2, S7).

27. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using additives?

Advantages: low dose, targeted function, faster development, lower grinding energy or higher pigment loading, better appearance or application behaviour. Disadvantages: interactions with other additives, side effects such as foam, craters or adhesion loss, grade-specific behaviour, supplier dependence, extra qualification work and extra regulatory declarations.

28. How should cost and performance be compared?

Compare cost per treated tonne of finished coating at the lowest effective dose, including the cost of rework, rejects and re-qualification. A dispersant that allows higher solids loading or shorter grinding time can save energy and material, but the article reporting this gave no energy figures (S2), so measure it in your plant.

29. What regulatory and sustainability questions arise?

Ask in writing for VOC content, silicone and mineral-oil content, PFAS status, food-contact suitability where relevant, biocide content and biodegradability or aquatic-toxicity information, each with scope and jurisdiction. PFAS-related restrictions on fluorinated surface additives are an active topic; see PFAS-free coating additives. This page makes no declaration for any product.

30. What supplier qualification questions should be asked?

Who manufactures the grade and where; what quality management documents support it; how formulation changes are notified; lot-to-lot data; technical support for trials; and complaint handling. See the supplier qualification checklist. PAXOMER does not confirm any supplier’s approvals or capacity on this page.

Guide: Specialty coating additives
Guide: Hydrophobic silica and rheology modifiers
Guide: PFAS-free coating additives
Guide: Printing inks, coatings and functional additives
Related page: Industrial defoamers and antifoams
Related page: Silicone surface-control additives

Manufacturing Regions & International Supply

Countries where public company or trade sources document manufacturing relevant to Industrial Coating Additives, with the form of material made there and the date of the evidence. A listing is market context only. It does not indicate a PAXOMER relationship, availability or price.

China: Rheology, wax and silicone additives for coatings. Product manufacturing · Company sources: Tongling site history (production since 2002) and Shanghai release, 2022 · R43, R42
South Korea: UV stabilizer and coatings-additive production. Product manufacturing · Trade report · R07
Taiwan: UV absorbers and HALS used in coatings, made at two plants in Taiwan. Product manufacturing · Distributor page, date not stated · R08

If you are evaluating manufacturers abroad, list in your RFQ brief the destination market, the documents you require and the delivery terms.

Engineering and purchasing FAQs

Each answer is general technical information, not a specification or a quotation.

Can a dispersant replace a wetting additive?

Not reliably. A dispersant stabilises pigment particles in the medium, while a substrate-wetting additive lowers surface tension so the liquid spreads on the substrate. Their primary tasks differ, so verify each function rather than assuming one can substitute for the other.

Why does my coating show craters after I added a defoamer?

Craters can come from a defoamer that is too incompatible, poorly dispersed or overdosed, or from contamination. Remove the additive in a controlled trial to see whether the defect traces to it, and remember that strong wetters can themselves stabilise foam and prompt a defoamer addition.

What viscosity should I specify for a paint?

One number is not enough. Specify low-shear behaviour for settling and sag, mid-shear in KU for handling, and high-shear viscosity for application, each with the instrument, speed or shear rate and temperature. Typical architectural paints are about 90–120 KU at mid shear, but your target depends on the product.

What do HEUR, HASE and cellulosic thickeners do differently?

Cellulosics are the long-established thickeners and are still widely used for lower-sheen coatings, HASE products are efficient liquid thickeners, and HEUR associative thickeners are used to maximise flow, leveling and gloss. Each moves the low-, mid- and high-shear viscosity differently.

How is the fineness of a pigment dispersion measured?

Fineness is usually read on a Hegman-type grind gauge following ASTM D1210, but a gauge reading does not describe colour strength or stability, so dispersion trials also track viscosity, colour development, heat-age stability and rub-out.

Does a lower-viscosity dispersion allow higher pigment loading?

That is a common aim and is reported in dispersant studies, where lower viscosity at equal loading can allow higher solids or shorter grinding. The size of the benefit depends on the pigment, binder and dispersant, so measure it in your system.

What dosage should I use for a coating additive?

There is no universal dose. Data sheets state grade-specific orientation levels, and your dose must come from a ladder test. Always state whether it is as-supplied or active, and on what base (batch, binder solids or pigment).

How do I know whether an additive causes poor recoat adhesion?

Apply, cure and age the film as in production, then recoat or print and test adhesion with and without the additive. Surface-active silicones are rated as having a high possibility of intercoat adhesion problems, so this test is essential.

Are silicone-free additives always better?

No. Silicone-free additives avoid silicone contamination risks but have their own trade-offs in compatibility, foam, efficiency and regulation. Compare exact grades against your requirements.

What documents should I request from an additive supplier?

Current technical data sheet and safety data sheet, composition or function description, active content, incorporation and storage instructions, change-notification terms, and any regulatory declarations you need, each stating scope and jurisdiction.

What information is needed for a quotation?

The coating type and binder, pigment, solvent and solids, cure, substrate, application, defect description, current additive package, restrictions in writing, trial quantity, volume, packaging and destination.

Does PAXOMER supply specific coating additives?

This page does not confirm stock, representation, supply or qualification for any product. PAXOMER works in technical supply and manufacturer development; describe your application in an inquiry to discuss whether a suitable qualified manufacturer can be identified.

Technical References

References below were opened on the access date shown. A source supports only the statement it is cited for. Standards are cited by number and title from public catalogue entries; their full text was not read unless stated.

S1. Designing, Formulating and Measuring Coatings for Optimum Rheology. PCI Magazine. pcimag.com/articles/92100-designing-formulating-and-measuring-coatings-for-optim (opens in a new tab) technical literature · accessed 2026-10-27
Trade article by a supplier of rheology modifiers; source of shear-regime ranges, KU range and viscometer notes.
S2. New Developments in Pigment Dispersing Agents Improve Performance and Reduce Energy Consumption. PCI Magazine. pcimag.com/articles/92441-new-developments-in-pigment-dispersing-agents-improve- (opens in a new tab) technical literature · accessed 2026-10-27
Manufacturer-authored trade article describing dispersion steps, stabilisation mechanisms and three laboratory studies; no fineness or energy figures.
S3. AEROSIL R 972 technical data sheet. Evonik Operations GmbH. products.evonik.com/assets/14/36/TDS_AER_R972_EN_Asset_2261436.pdf (opens in a new tab) manufacturer datasheet · accessed 2026-10-27
Typical data, not specifications; no test methods stated.
S4. ASTM D4287-00(2019), High-Shear Viscosity Using a Cone/Plate Viscometer (page lists D4287-00R23 as active). ASTM International, 2023. store.astm.org/d4287-00r19.html (opens in a new tab) standard catalogue · accessed 2026-10-27
Catalogue entry; the full standard was not read.
S5. Test Methods Used in Developing Technical Data Sheets. PCI Magazine. pcimag.com/articles/83177-test-methods-used-in-developing-technical-data-sheets (opens in a new tab) technical literature · accessed 2026-10-27
Trade article naming ASTM D1210, D562, D4287 and D523 with descriptions; formal titles were not given in it.
S6. Wetting Agents and Surface Modifiers (brochure). BASF. www.basf.com/dam/jcr:172fed1c-9f96-3e2f-9479-8a4fc0305275/basf/www/global/segmen (opens in a new tab) manufacturer literature · accessed 2026-10-27
Surface tensions, leveling relationship and qualitative ratings.
S7. Understanding Defoamer Chemistry (article reprint). BYK-Chemie (PCI Magazine), 2020-06. cdn.byk.com/fileadmin/BYK/Company_News/Press_and_Media/Articles/PCIMAG_202006_Un (opens in a new tab) technical literature · accessed 2026-10-27
Defoamer families, pH ranges, shear and addition-point statements.

Regional manufacturing evidence

Company and trade publications cited in Manufacturing Regions & International Supply. Each supports only the statement it is cited for (checked 29–30 October 2026). Naming a company here does not state or imply a relationship with PAXOMER.

R07. Songwon expands in-house production in South Korea (UV stabilizers and coatings additives). PCI Magazine. www.pcimag.com/articles/105502-songwon-expands-in-house-production-in-south-kore (opens in a new tab) checked 2026-10-30
R08. Chitec Chiguard 234 (company with two plants and one R&D centre in Taiwan). Safic-Alcan (distributor product page). www.safic-alcan.com/en-lu/product-catalog/coatings-inks-construction/chitec/chig (opens in a new tab) checked 2026-10-30
R42. BYK production expansion completed in Shanghai (silicone additives). BYK (ALTANA). www.byk.com/en/company-news/news/detail/byk-production-expansion-successfully-co (opens in a new tab) checked 2026-10-30
R43. Company history 2002 (Tongling additives production, China). BYK (ALTANA). byk.com/en/company-news/history/2002 (opens in a new tab) checked 2026-10-30

Evidence notes and limitations

What the information on this page does not establish. Confirm these points with the manufacturer, the current standard or the relevant authority before relying on them.

The rheology article (S1) is a supplier-authored trade article; its poise, KU and shear-rate ranges are general and were read from text extraction, and the 1 poise = 100 mPa·s conversion is ours.
ASTM D1210, D562 and D523 titles, editions and scope were taken from a trade article and not read from the catalogue.
The PCI dispersant article (S2) reports qualitative outcomes only; no numeric viscosity or colour-strength values are available to quote.
AEROSIL R 972 data are typical values for one grade; other fumed silica grades differ, and the data sheet does not name test methods.
Statements on additive interactions and cure effects beyond BASF’s polyether decomposition note are general practice without a specific reference.
This page has not been independently technically reviewed or certified.

Facts checked against the cited sources

ASTM D4287-00(2019) title, 12,000 s⁻¹ scope and the historical status of that edition (D4287-00R23 active) were read on the ASTM catalogue page.
Shear rates (0.001 s⁻¹, 10,000 s⁻¹), 0.5–2.0 poise, 90–120 KU and the 50–140 KU range were read in S1; 0.5–2.0 poise converted to 50–200 mPa·s (1 poise = 0.1 Pa·s).
Dispersion steps, stabilisation mechanisms and study conditions (17 and 14 wt% organic pigments, 70+ wt% iron oxide, 2% dispersant, 5,000 rpm 5 min) were read in S2.
AEROSIL R 972 typical data were read in S3.
Surface tensions and the 140–150 °C polyether decomposition note were read in S6; defoamer family statements in S7.

Where this connects to the full guide

The primary technical guide behind this page is Specialty Coating Additives: Dispersion, Flow & Application. All its topics are indexed below.

Topics in the full guide

See all 22 topics in the guide

Glossary: Leveling · Recoatability · Rheology · Viscosity · Pigment flocculation · Sag resistance · Microfoam · Shear thinning

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