Silicone-Polyether Wetting Agent SW-67

Silicone-polyether wetting agents (trisiloxane or polydimethylsiloxane-polyether copolymers) are dramatically more efficient than conventional hydrocarbon-based wetting agents. They reduce dynamic surface tension to 20–24 mN/m at loadings as low as 0.05–0.1%, compared to 28–35 mN/m achievable with conventional wetting agents at higher dosages. This 'superspreading' effect enables waterborne coatings to wet low-surface-energy substrates (plastic, weathered wood, oily metal) that conventional surfactants cannot penetrate. However, silicone wetting agents can cause intercoat adhesion problems and may stabilize foam at higher dosages — keep to the minimum effective level.