Driving the Green Transformation with TEGO® Wet Terra biosurfactants

Surfactants are essential in coatings and inks, typically derived from fossil raw materials. They perform crucial functions like emulsifying, which stabilize emulsions to mix oil and water, improve surface wetting, enhance pigment dispersion, and prevent defects like craters and blisters, ensuring a smooth, durable finish.

As the world moves towards sustainability, coating and inks formulators are seeking alternatives to fossil-based products. Evonik provides innovative solutions with its TEGO^® Wet 570 Terra and TEGO^® Wet 580 Terra. These biosurfactants are made from 100% plant-based raw materials through fermentation and decompose without leaving harmful residues. This helps to meet stringent global environmental standards and the growing demand for from formulators and end customers for sustainable solutions.

To meet the growing demand for biosurfactants, Evonik has launched the first industrial-scale biosurfactant facility in Slovakia. With this plant, Evonik leads the way in biosurfactant development, producing glycolipid biosurfactants through a patented, fermentation-based process. This innovative process uses plant-based raw materials, such as corn, to create high-performance, non-toxic, biodegradable biosurfactants.

The performance of the TEGO® Wet Terra product line is impressive. These biosurfactants provide excellent wetting for pigments, substrates, and fillers, making them ideal for waterborne architectural, wood, and industrial coatings, as well as pigment concentrates. Their ability to quickly wet pigments and fillers reduces grinding time and energy consumption, leading to energy savings and efficient production processes for customers. They also ensure excellent coverage without compromising film strength. Additional benefits include eliminating defects in sensitive binders and avoiding negative interactions with rheology modifiers.

TEGO^® Wet 570 Terra and TEGO^® Wet 580 Terra are ideal for waterborne decorative paints, industrial coatings, and inks. Their properties and compliance with stringent EU Ecolabel standards make them a perfect choice for formulators creating future-proof coatings.

In architectural coatings, biosurfactants are crucial for achieving smooth, defect-free finishes. Their ability to improve substrate wetting and pigment dispersion ensures even color distribution and reduces surface defects like craters and blisters. Similarly, in wood coatings, TEGO^® Wet Terra biosurfactants enhance the aesthetic qualities of the finish.

For pigment concentrates, TEGO^® Wet Terra products can streamline the manufacturing process. The biosurfactants facilitate faster wetting of powders, reducing dust formation and optimizing production speed. This efficiency not only lowers production costs but also minimizes the environmental footprint of the manufacturing process.

In protective coatings, the new biosurfactants support an excellent wetting and stabilization of pigments, crucial for maintaining color consistency and long-term stability. TEGO^® Wet Terra additives help coatings withstand harsh conditions, such as corrosive environments, by providing anti-corrosion properties and ensuring adhesion.

With its new TEGO® Wet Terra biosurfactant products, Evonik Coating Additives marks an important step forward in sustainable coating and ink technology. These biosurfactants provide an alternative to traditional surfactants, meeting customer demands for both high performance and environmental responsibility.