In the coating system of water-based plastic paint, leveling agents are not only the key additives to
solve surface defects, but also an important force in promoting the green upgrading of the plastic
coating industry with core advantages such as environmental protection, high efficiency, and strong
adaptability. It has a precise mechanism of action that not only improves the quality of coatings, but
also meets the dual needs of modern industry for environmental protection and practicality.
One of the prominent advantages of water-based plastic paint leveling agents is their environmental friendliness.
These types of additives are often designed with VOC free and APEO free formulas, which perfectly match the
environmentally friendly substrate of water-based plastic paint. They can significantly reduce the release of harmful
substances during the coating process, meeting strict environmental regulations and reducing the impact on the health
of construction workers and the ecological environment. Its water-based characteristics are highly compatible with
water-based coating systems, and it can function without relying on organic solvents, helping to implement low
pollution coating processes from the source.
In terms of leveling effect, leveling agents demonstrate the advantages of high efficiency and precision.
It can quickly migrate to the surface of the coating, and by adjusting the surface tension gradient, it can suppress
defects such as orange peel and shrinkage caused by Marangoni convection and Benard vortex, allowing the
coating to spread evenly on the surface of the plastic substrate. Some types of leveling agents can also extend the
leveling window period to the minute level by constructing a dynamic viscoelastic network, ensuring that
construction marks such as brush marks and roller prints are fully repaired. Even in ultra-thin coatings, mirror level
leveling effects can be achieved, and their defect repair efficiency far exceeds that of ordinary auxiliary materials.
Wide adaptability is another core advantage. Whether it is low surface energy and difficult to adhere plastic
substrates such as PE and PP, or conventional plastic materials, leveling agents can achieve good adaptation by
adjusting surface wetting properties, without the need to frequently adjust formulations for specific substrates.
At the same time, it has excellent compatibility with mainstream resin systems such as water-based acrylic acid
and polyurethane. It can function independently or work in conjunction with other additives such as wetting
agents and defoamers to further optimize the overall performance of the coating, adapting to diverse coating
needs from 3C products to household items.
Leveling agents also have significant performance enhancement advantages. In addition to the basic leveling
function, some types can enhance the smoothness and scratch resistance of the coating, extending the product's
service life; Some can enhance the glossiness and fullness of the paint film, making the decorative nature of plastic
products more prominent. Its addition amount is only 0.1% to 1% of the total coating amount, and a small amount
of use can achieve significant performance improvement without causing side effects such as stable foaming and
decreased adhesion, balancing the economy of use and the stability of the effect.
In practical applications, the convenience advantage of leveling agents is also evident. It is easily dispersed in
aqueous systems, with flexible addition methods that can be integrated into existing production processes without
complex process adjustments. It can also adapt to the requirements of different construction environments and
maintain stable effects within a wide temperature and humidity range. This "low input, high return" usage
characteristic enables it to quickly improve product qualification rates in industrial production without the need
for additional costs.
As the core optimization additive for water-based plastic paint, leveling agents are based on environmental
protection, with efficient leveling, wide adaptability, and performance enhancement as the core. They not only
solve the technical pain points of plastic coating, but also conform to the industry trend of green development,
becoming a practical and sustainable coating solution.
