A complete guide to the use of water-based anti-cratering additives
The use of water-based anti-cratering additives requires certain steps and precautions to ensure that they work effectively.
Preparation before adding
Confirm product compatibility:
Carefully read the technical specifications of water-based anti-cratering additives to understand their scope of application
and compatibility. Different water-based anti-cratering additives may be suitable for different water-based coatings and
ink systems. It is necessary to ensure that the selected additives are compatible with the base materials used (such as
water-based acrylic acid, water-based polyurethane, etc.) and other additives (such as pigments, defoamers, leveling
agents, etc.) to avoid adverse reactions or affect coating performance.
Clean equipment and containers:
Before adding water-based anti-cratering additives, ensure that the coating production equipment, mixing containers
and conveying pipelines are clean and free of impurities and residues. You can use an appropriate detergent to clean it,
then rinse it with clean water and dry it to prevent impurities from affecting the quality of the additives and coatings.
Addition method
Direct addition method
Applicable scenarios: Applicable to most water-based coatings and ink systems, simple and convenient operation.
Operation steps: During the production process of coatings or inks, add the water-based anti-cratering additive
directly to the base material according to the addition amount required by the formula. During the addition process,
add slowly to avoid excessive local concentration of the additive.
Example: When preparing water-based wood paint, slowly pour the specified amount of water-based anti-cratering
additive into a container containing water-based acrylic emulsion while stirring.
Pre-dilution method
Applicable scenarios: When the viscosity of the water-based anti-cratering additive is high or the compatibility with
the base material is poor, the pre-dilution method can be used.
Operation steps:
First dilute the water-based anti-cratering additive with an appropriate amount of water or a solvent compatible with
the base material, stir evenly, and then add it to the coating or ink system. The dilution ratio should be adjusted
according to the properties of the additive and actual needs, and is generally controlled between 1:1 - 1:5.
Example:
A certain water-based anti-cratering additive has a high viscosity and is difficult to be directly and evenly dispersed
in the coating. At this time, it can be mixed with an appropriate amount of deionized water in a ratio of 1:3, stirred
thoroughly until it is uniform and transparent, and then slowly added to the water-based industrial coating.
Stirring and mixing
Full stirring: After adding the water-based anti-cratering additive, it needs to be fully stirred to ensure that the
additive is evenly dispersed in the coating or ink system. The stirring speed and time should be adjusted according
to the viscosity of the system and the properties of the additive. The general stirring speed is 300-800 rpm and the
stirring time is 15-30 minutes.
Avoid excessive stirring: Although it is necessary to stir thoroughly, excessive stirring should also be avoided to
avoid excessive bubbles and affect the quality of the coating. If a large number of bubbles appear during the stirring
process, the stirring speed can be appropriately reduced or an appropriate amount of defoaming agent can be added
for treatment.
Addition amount control
Refer to the manufacturer's recommendations:
The effective addition amount of water-based anti-cratering additives of different types and brands will vary.
Generally speaking, the addition amount is between 0.1% and 3% of the total mass of the coating or ink. The amount of
addition should be determined strictly in accordance with the product manual or the technical guidance provided by
the manufacturer to avoid insufficient or excessive addition.
Conduct a small test: In actual production, due to differences in raw materials, changes in production processes and
other factors, it may be necessary to fine-tune the amount of addition. Therefore, before formal production, it is
recommended to conduct a small test to determine the optimal amount of addition by observing the appearance,
performance and other indicators of the coating.
Post-use inspection and adjustment
Appearance inspection: Observe the surface condition of the coating and check whether there are still defects such as
shrinkage cavities. If there are still shrinkage cavities, it may be that the amount of addition is insufficient or the additive
is not properly selected. It is necessary to increase the amount of addition appropriately or replace other types of
water-based anti-shrinkage cavitation additives.
Performance testing:
Test the adhesion, hardness, glossiness, water resistance and other properties of the coating to ensure that the quality
of the coating meets the requirements. If some performance indicators do not meet the standards, it may be necessary to
adjust the amount of water-based anti-shrinkage cavitation additive or use it in combination with other additives.
