Magical Liquid Magician: Multiple Applications of Viscosity Reducing Dispersants
In industrial production and daily life, we often encounter some viscous liquid or solid particle mixed systems,
which have poor fluidity and uneven dispersion, seriously affecting production efficiency and product quality.
At this time, the viscosity reducing dispersant is like a magical magician, which can quickly change the state of
these systems and make them "obedient". So, what exactly is a viscosity reducing dispersant? How does it show
its prowess in various fields?
1. Unveiling the mystery of viscosity reducing dispersants
Viscosity reducing dispersants, literally speaking, are a type of chemical additives that can reduce the viscosity of the
system and promote uniform dispersion of particles. Its working principle is based on surface chemistry and colloid
chemistry. The viscosity reducing dispersant molecule has a special structure, with one end being a lyophilic group that
can have good affinity with the liquid medium; the other end is a solid-philic group that can be adsorbed on the surface
of solid particles. When the viscosity-reducing dispersant is added to the system, the solid-philic groups are adsorbed on
the surface of the solid particles, reducing the attraction between the particles and preventing the particles from
agglomerating; the liquid-philic groups extend to the liquid medium, forming a protective film around the particles, while
reducing the internal friction of the liquid, thereby achieving the purpose of reducing the viscosity of the system and
promoting dispersion.
Different types of viscosity-reducing dispersants are suitable for different systems. For example, anionic viscosity-reducing
dispersants are suitable for alkaline or neutral systems, cationic viscosity-reducing dispersants perform well in acidic systems,
and non-ionic viscosity-reducing dispersants have good water resistance and temperature resistance and are suitable for a
variety of complex systems.
2. Industrial application stage of viscosity-reducing dispersants
In the coatings industry, viscosity-reducing dispersants are indispensable and important additives. Coatings are usually
composed of pigments, fillers, resins, solvents and additives. The degree of dispersion of pigments and fillers directly affects the
properties of the coating, such as hiding power, tinting power, gloss and stability. If the pigments and fillers are not evenly
dispersed, the coating will have problems such as uneven color, flocculation, and precipitation. Viscosity reducing dispersants
can effectively reduce the viscosity of the coating system, make the pigments and fillers evenly dispersed in the resin and solvent,
and improve the construction performance and film quality of the coating. For example, in water-based coatings, the use of suitable
viscosity reducing dispersants can avoid pigment agglomeration, ensure the stability of the coating during storage and construction,
and make the wall color uniform and bright after painting.
In the ink industry, viscosity reducing dispersants also play a key role. The ink needs to have good fluidity and dispersibility to ensure
that the ink can be evenly transferred to the substrate during the printing process to obtain clear and colorful printed patterns.
Viscosity reducing dispersants can reduce the viscosity of the ink, make the pigment fully dispersed in the ink, prevent the pigment
from settling, and improve the printability of the ink. In offset printing inks, viscosity reducing dispersants can improve the
emulsification properties of the ink and improve the balance between the ink and the fountain solution, thereby reducing printing
failures and improving printing efficiency and quality.
In the plastics industry, viscosity reducing dispersants are mainly used in plastic modification and filling processes. When inorganic
fillers (such as calcium carbonate, talcum powder, etc.) are added to plastics, the poor compatibility between the filler surface and the
plastic matrix can easily lead to increased system viscosity and poor processing performance. Viscosity reducing dispersants can be
adsorbed on the filler surface, reduce the interfacial tension between the filler and the plastic matrix, improve the dispersibility of the
filler in the plastic, and reduce the viscosity of the system, making the plastic easier to process. For example, when producing filler
masterbatch, the use of viscosity reducing dispersants can make a large amount of fillers evenly dispersed in the carrier resin. After
the produced filler masterbatch is added to plastic products, it will not affect the mechanical properties and processing properties
of the plastic products, and can also reduce production costs.
In the field of oil extraction, viscosity reducing dispersants also have important applications. With the continuous exploitation of
oil resources, the proportion of heavy oil and high-condensation oil has gradually increased. These crude oils have high viscosity
and poor fluidity, making them difficult to extract and transport. Viscosity reducing dispersants can reduce the viscosity of crude oil,
making it easier to extract from the formation, and reduce pipeline resistance and energy consumption during transportation.
For example, in the production of heavy oil, injecting a viscosity-reducing dispersant solution into the oil well can significantly
reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil and increase the recovery rate of crude oil.
3. Daily life application of viscosity-reducing dispersants
In addition to being widely used in the industrial field, viscosity-reducing dispersants can also be seen everywhere in daily life.
In the cosmetics industry, many skin care products and makeup products contain viscosity-reducing dispersants. For example,
in skin care products such as lotions and creams, viscosity-reducing dispersants can make various effective ingredients
(such as oils, moisturizers, active ingredients, etc.) evenly dispersed in water to form a stable emulsion system, ensuring that
the product has a delicate texture and is easy to apply. In makeup products, such as foundation liquid and eye shadow,
viscosity-reducing dispersants can evenly disperse pigments, making the makeup more docile and lasting.
In the food industry, viscosity-reducing dispersants also play a certain role. For example, when making foods such as jams
and jellies, in order to make the pulp particles or pectin evenly dispersed and prevent precipitation and stratification, an
appropriate amount of viscosity-reducing dispersant is added. These food-grade viscosity-reducing dispersants are usually
safe and non-toxic, and can ensure the quality and taste of food.
4. Future Prospects
With the continuous advancement of science and technology and the increasing requirements of various industries for product
quality, the application prospects of viscosity-reducing dispersants will be broader. In the future, viscosity-reducing dispersants
will develop in the direction of environmental protection, high efficiency and multi-function. R&D personnel will be committed
to developing more environmentally friendly viscosity-reducing dispersants to reduce pollution to the environment; improve
the performance of viscosity-reducing dispersants so that they can achieve better viscosity-reducing and dispersing effects at a
lower addition amount; at the same time, give viscosity-reducing dispersants more functions, such as antibacterial, flame
retardant, and enhancement, to meet the special needs of different industries.
Although viscosity-reducing dispersants seem inconspicuous, they play an irreplaceable role in industrial production and daily life.
It is like a silently dedicated behind-the-scenes hero, using its magical power to change the state of various substances, creating
better products and a better life for us.
