Coating additives

When discussing coating performance, it is often the resin, pigment or final application that receives the most attention. Yet some of the most important ingredients in a coating formulation are frequently the least visible.

Additives may represent only a small proportion of the overall formulation, but their impact can be significant. From improving dispersion and stability to enabling waterborne technologies and supporting VOC reduction, additives help formulators deliver the performance, durability and sustainability demanded by today's market.

As regulatory requirements evolve and sustainability targets become more ambitious, coatings are being asked to do more than ever before. The challenge for formulators is no longer simply achieving performance, but balancing that performance with environmental considerations, regulatory compliance and cost-effectiveness. In many cases, the difference between a good formulation and a great one comes down to the additive package. 

Small ingredients. Significant impact.

Although additives often represent only a small percentage of a coating formulation, they can disproportionately affect formulation stability, application properties, and long-term coating performance.

Why additives matter more than ever

The role of additives has evolved significantly over the last decade.

Historically, formulators may have used additives to solve a specific technical challenge. Today, additives are expected to support multiple objectives simultaneously. A single formulation may need to deliver excellent appearance, long-term durability, reduced VOC content, improved sustainability credentials and reliable manufacturing performance.

At the same time, customers expect coatings to maintain or improve performance whilst meeting increasingly demanding environmental requirements.

As a result, formulators are relying more heavily on technologies that can optimise performance without adding complexity. This is one reason why additive selection has become a critical part of formulation design rather than an afterthought.

Supporting the transition to waterborne coatings

One of the most significant trends shaping the coatings industry is the continued shift towards waterborne technologies.

This transition presents clear opportunities for formulators seeking to reduce solvent usage and support sustainability initiatives. However, moving to waterborne systems can introduce new technical challenges related to compatibility, stability, application properties and long-term performance.

Technologies such as the Maxemul™ range have been developed to support the conversion of traditional alkyd systems into waterborne emulsions, helping formulators maintain many of the performance attributes associated with solventborne coatings while progressing towards more sustainable solutions.

For formulators, this highlights an important principle: performance is rarely determined by the major formulation components alone. The technologies used to stabilise and optimise those components often play an equally important role.

Performance starts long before application

Many coating performance challenges begin long before a coating reaches the substrate.

Storage stability, pigment dispersion, particle size control and formulation robustness all influence how a coating performs during manufacturing, application and in-service use.

This is where additives can make a measurable difference.

During emulsion polymerisation, reactive surfactants can help stabilise polymer particles and support the production of more robust dispersions. Because these technologies become associated with the polymer structure itself, they can contribute to improved long-term performance and formulation stability.

Similarly, dispersants and wetting agents help maximise pigment efficiency and improve colour consistency while supporting formulation stability. These functions may not always be visible to the end user, but they remain essential to achieving reliable coating performance.

Supporting VOC reduction without compromise

VOC reduction remains a major focus across the coatings industry.

Customers increasingly require lower-emission coatings that still deliver the durability, appearance and protection expected from established technologies.

Achieving this balance is rarely straightforward.

The most successful formulations are often those where multiple technologies work together to support both performance and sustainability objectives. By combining advances in emulsification, dispersion and VOC-reduction technologies, formulators can continue to innovate without sacrificing the characteristics their customers value most.

Looking ahead

The future of coatings will be shaped by increasingly complex formulation requirements.

Sustainability targets, regulatory expectations and customer performance demands will continue to evolve. While resins, pigments and fillers will always remain fundamental building blocks within coatings, the technologies that help those ingredients work effectively together will become even more important.

Additives may represent only a small part of the formulation, but they frequently have an outsized influence on the final result.

For formulators navigating the challenges of modern coatings development, understanding and optimising additive selection could be one of the most valuable opportunities for innovation.

Explore our portfolio of coating additives and discover how our technologies are supporting the development of more sustainable, high-performance coating formulations: