Leveling Agent

A leveling agent is a chemical substance added to a paint or coating to enhance its thickness uniformity when applied to a surface. Some examples of observed eliminate surface defects as may be noticed in poorly leveled paint films are:

 

• Orange peeling

Structured surface

Craters

Fisheyes

Crawling

Brush marks

Pinholes, etc.

 

Most of these defects are the result of local surface tension differences of the involved raw materials, of substrate contaminants or of surface tension differences as the result from solvent evaporation.

 

Proper usage of flow and leveling agents can significantly correct these defects.