A wetting agent is a surface-active molecule that reduces the water’s surface tension. High surface tensions of water can be problematic for many applications that require water penetration and spreading. These include paints and other coating formulations as well as detergents and pesticides.
What are the uses of wetting agents?
The main function of wetting agents is to lower the water’s surface tension. Pure water has a very high surface tension at 72.8 mN/m (20 degC). The high surface tension of water can cause problems in industrial processes, as water-based solutions cannot wet the surface they are applied to. Water-based solutions are often helped to spread by the use of wetting agents, which reduce the water’s surface tension.
Many products use wetting agents. Wetting agents are used in many industries, including the coating industry. They help the fluid phase wet pigment particles during the pigment distribution process. They help reduce the surface tension of coatings so that the substrate is properly soaked after application. Wetting agents are used in pesticides to help spread the solution on the leaf surface, increasing their effectiveness. Many insects, fungi and plants have a waxy surface that makes it difficult for water-based pesticides to reach their target.
How does a wetting agent work, and how can you measure their efficiency?
One class of surfactants includes wetting agents. Surfactants are active on the surface, making them more likely to adsorb at liquid-liquid and air-liquid interfaces. They reduce the surface tension by allowing water molecules to penetrate between them and thereby reducing their cohesion.
The main function of the wetting agent is to lower the water’s surface tension, and surface tension measurements are done. Surface tension measurements will tell you how much a wetting agent can reduce surface tension. It also shows how much-wet agent should be used.
