Silicones as Surface Modifiers

Silicones materials are known to exhibit a very low surface energy value.

Thanks to this, silicone additives have a remarkable effects on the leveling, flow, water repellency and scratch resistance of coatings formulation.

The main advantage of these additives is that - being a liquid product - they can just be stirred-in with a low energy mixer and they will not lower the gloss of a coating at all. If low surface energy is required without any influence on high gloss, there is not other alternative than Silicones.

Specific silicones additives have the ability to alter the optical appearance and "touch" of the surface, leading to the development of "Soft-Feel" coatings.

A negative effect on recoatability or intercoat adhesion may be encoutered by formulator. But in specific application, this apparent drawback can turn into advantage for anti-graffiti coatings when easy removal of a second coating is desired.