Company Vision
To Become A Globally Respected Specialty Chemical Technology Company.
29
2026
-
05
MORE ADDITIVES, BETTER RESULTS? THINK AGAIN.
Author:
KopperChem Coating Additives
Ever find yourself adding more and more additives to your formulation—defoamers, wetting agents, leveling agents—only to see surface quality that still falls short? Foam, craters, orange peel—one problem after another.
The issue might not be that you're adding too little. It might be that you're choosing the wrong ones.
When wetting agents and defoamers pull surface tension in opposite directions, the more additives you add, the more fragile your system becomes.
01 The Push-and-Pull Between Two Additives
Wetting agents lower surface tension to improve substrate wetting. But conventional wetting agents also reduce the driving force for bubble breakage—bubbles become more stable and harder to eliminate.
So you add a defoamer.
Defoamers do break bubbles—but their extremely low surface tension can introduce new problems if not carefully dosed: craters, fish eyes, and poor intercoat adhesion.
And to compensate for the wetting loss caused by the defoamer, you may find yourself adding even more wetting agent…
This cycle is all too familiar to many formulators.
The real question isn't about dosage—it's about selecting the right tool for the job. And for waterborne systems, the right tool can sometimes resolve both sides of the equation.
02 Acetylenic Diol Wetting Agents: A Different Approach
Is there a way to break this cycle—a wetting agent that works with the system, not against it?
Acetylenic diol-based wetting agents offer one such answer.
Their unique molecular structure allows them to spread rapidly at the air-liquid interface while forming a relatively loose, breathable adsorbed layer—bubbles struggle to stabilize and break more easily.
This means formulators no longer have to constantly balance wetting against defoaming. It simplifies formulation design and reduces mutual interference between multiple additives.
03 Gemini Structure: Performance Enhancement
Gemibola® 840 is an ethoxylated gemini-type nonionic surfactant. Building on the acetylenic diol backbone with a gemini structure delivers enhanced performance across three key areas:
01
Lower Surface Tension
The gemini structure enables tighter molecular packing at the interface, achieving higher surface activity and effective wetting even at very low concentrations.
02
Stronger Wetting Performance
The unique molecular architecture provides outstanding static and dynamic wetting properties, making it suitable for rapid wetting across a wide range of waterborne systems.
03
Better Compatibility
The ethoxylated hydrophilic segments improve solubility and compatibility in waterborne systems. With an HLB value of approximately 8, it provides a well-balanced hydrophilic-lipophilic profile.
04 Typical Applications
• Waterborne Industrial Coatings
• Waterborne Wood Coatings & Architectural Paints
• Waterborne Inks
• Waterborne Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives & Adhesives
Whether in high-speed printing inks that demand rapid wetting or industrial coatings with strict surface quality requirements, Gemibola® 840 delivers consistent and reliable wetting performance.
05 Technical Summary
When you find yourself adding more and more additives to your formulation, the issue may not be insufficient dosage—it may be that you're overlooking how these additives interact with each other.
Gemibola® 840 addresses this through its ethoxylated gemini-type molecular structure, delivering both efficient wetting and inherent foam control. It helps formulators simplify formulation design, reduce surface defect risks, and achieve more consistent product quality.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which waterborne systems is Gemibola® 840 suitable for?
A: It is suitable for waterborne industrial coatings, waterborne wood coatings, architectural paints, waterborne inks, and waterborne pressure-sensitive adhesives and adhesives.
Q: Does Gemibola® 840 contain APEO?
A: No. It is APEO-free and meets current mainstream environmental standards.
Q: How does Gemibola® 840 differ from conventional wetting agents?
A: Conventional wetting agents tend to stabilize bubbles while lowering surface tension. Gemibola® 840, by contrast, delivers efficient wetting with inherent foam control—reducing the need for high defoamer loadings and the secondary defects they can cause, such as craters and fish eyes.
Q: What is the recommended addition level for Gemibola® 840?
A: The recommended addition level is 0.1%–2.0% based on total formulation weight, supplied as delivered. For optimal results across different systems and performance requirements, a gradient test is recommended to determine the ideal dosage.
At KopperChem, we believe sustainability shouldn't come at the cost of performance. Our commitment goes beyond eco-friendly chemistries—we innovate to help our customers work smarter and achieve better results.
Because better chemistry leads to better living.
wettingagent,coatingadditives,foamcontrol,waterborn,ink,paint
Latest News
2026-05-29
MORE ADDITIVES, BETTER RESULTS? THINK AGAIN.
For waterborne coating systems dealing with wetting and foam issues, Gemibola® 840 is worth considering. This ethoxylated gemini-type nonionic surfactant delivers efficient dynamic surface tension reduction while offering inherent foam-control benefits, making it suitable for waterborne industrial coatings, wood coatings, architectural paints, inks, and adhesives.
2026-05-08
Water Resistance Issues in Waterborne Coatings? Your Dispersant Might Be the Culprit.
Poor water resistance, flocculation, and viscosity rebound in waterborne coatings? Gemibola® 7301 high-performance dispersant tackles all three—one solution, multiple benefits.
© 2025 Kopper Chemical Industry Corp., Ltd. All rights reserved.
Chongqing Public Security Bureau Network Security Permit No. 50011502000737