Acrylic Leveling Solution in High-Gloss Clear Coats

In acrylic emulsion production, high-gloss clear coats often face leveling defects (e.g., craters, orange peel) and poor substrate wetting, leading to inadequate surface smoothness and gloss. Chemi Tech's leveling agent KMP-0199, designed for acrylic systems, addresses these issues through a modified copolymer structure that reduces surface tension differentials and ensures uniform flow without compromising interlayer adhesion.

Technical Mechanism

KMP-0199 utilizes an acrylic copolymer design with oriented molecular chains to regulate surface tension:

Rapid Leveling: Low dynamic surface tension promotes coating extension, cutting leveling time by 30%.

Defect Control: Suppresses craters and fish eyes caused by substrate contamination or compatibility issues.

Enhanced Wetting: Improves penetration on porous substrates (e.g., wood, metal), minimizing blooming.

Case Study: Wood Clear Coat Application

A furniture manufacturer using water-based acrylic emulsion for high-gloss clear coats experienced severe orange peel and craters, resulting in a 15% rework rate. After adding 0.8% KMP-0199:

Leveling: Mirror-like finish achieved; orange peel rating improved from Grade 3 to 1.

Gloss: 60° gloss value increased from 89 to 96.

Stability: No oil separation or flocculation after 30-day storage at 50°C.

This solution has operated stably for 12 months, reducing annual costs by 9%. Chemi Tech offers customizable molecular weights for diverse application processes.