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April 11, 2025

Evonik launches TEGO® Wet 288 for substrate wetting of waterborne and radiation-curing formulations

Evonik Coating Additives has developed TEGO® Wet 288, a unique substrate wetting additive designed to address the challenges of waterborne and radiation-cured formulations.

  • Superior effectiveness and long-term stability in waterborne inkjet inks
  • Excellent substrate wetting while maintaining reprintability and glueability in radiation-curable inks and coatings
  • Broad food contact compliances

Essen, Germany. Evonik Coating Additives has developed TEGO® Wet 288, a unique substrate wetting additive designed to address the challenges of waterborne and radiation-cured formulations.

Traditional silicone based wetting additives often lose effectiveness in high pH aqueous formulations during long-term storage or negatively impact reprintability and glueability in radiation-cured formulations. TEGO® Wet 288 overcomes these limitations.

“We developed this innovative technology through close collaboration with our customers,” said Kai Yang, Project Manager and Head of Applied Research & Technologies Americas INKS at Evonik Coating Additives. “Our TEGO® Wet 288 shows a performance profile that was previously thought to be unattainable.”

In waterborne inkjet inks, TEGO® Wet 288 significantly reduces surface tension and maintains its effectiveness over extended periods, outperforming competing technologies. In radiation-cured inks and varnishes, it delivers strong surface tension reduction and wetting while preserving reprintability and glueability.

Besides this excellent performance TEGO® Wet 288 also provides excellent food contact compliances which allow for the use of this hydrophobic surfactant also in food packaging applications.

Furthermore, TEGO® Wet 288 provides broad food contact compliance, making it suitable for use in food packaging applications. This hydrophobic surfactant expands the possibilities for formulators.

 

“TEGO® Wet 288 is the perfect addition to our comprehensive portfolio of solvent-free, high-performance additives for waterborne and UV-cured inks and varnishes, all of which feature broad food contact compliance," said Susanne Struck, Global Head of Market Segment INKS at Evonik Coating Additives.

Evonik's Coating Additives business offers a comprehensive portfolio of co-binders for inks, along with a wide range of additives for waterborne, radiation-curable, solventborne, and inkjet printing inks. 

About Evonik

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2,1 billion in 2024. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable, and sustainable solutions for customers. About 32,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.

About Custom Solutions

The Custom Solutions segment focuses on innovation-driven, tailor-made solutions for customers in specific growth markets. These solutions include additives for coatings, adhesives and sealants, polyurethane foams and lubricants, catalysts, and ingredients for the cosmetics, cleaning and pharmaceutical industries. In 2024, the segment generated sales of €5.7 billion with around 7,000 employees.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.