Solutions for Waterborne Metallic Paints
Unlock the full brilliance of your metallic paints.
Automotive Metallic Coatings – Precision Orientation for Waterborne
The automotive industry is shifting towards electric vehicles, lightweight substrates, and stricter VOC limits. Metallic finishes remain a key differentiator, but achieving consistent flake orientation in waterborne formulations is becoming harder, as water evaporates slowly, film thickness is reduced, and rheology must be precisely controlled to avoid dull effects and mottling.
The Challenge – Aligning Pigments Under New Pressures
Higher FI value and faster production cycles demand additives that deliver both shear-thinning for sprayability and rapid viscosity recovery for sag resistance. At the same time, the transition from solvent‑based to waterborne systems introduces a narrower window for pigment alignment. Without the right rheological support, aluminum flakes and pearlescent pigments fail to lie flat, reducing flop index and hiding power—defects that today’s OEMs and consumers will not accept.
Our Solutions – Thixotropy and Steric Hindrance in Synergy
We offer a targeted portfolio of rheological additives engineered specifically for waterborne metallic paints. Products like THIXATROL® P2100W provide strong steric hindrance to orient and immobilise flakes horizontally, while RHEOLATE® 290 delivers rapid shear‑thinning for excellent levelling in thin films and fast structure recovery for pigment fixation. Complemented by BENTONE® DE and THIXATROL® 5020W/5050W, our range enables higher flop index, reduced mottling, and stable anti‑settling performance across diverse OEM and refinish systems.
Beyond visual quality, our additives support lower‑VOC formulations, improve application efficiency, and reduce material waste—helping you meet sustainability goals without compromising on finish or durability.
Key Solutions at a Glance
| Product | Chemical Nature | Key Properties |
|---|---|---|
| BENTONE® DE | Hyperdispersible organically modified hectorite clay | Low-shear viscosity build; pourable pre-gels; minimal impact on gloss while enhancing orientation. |
| THIXATROL® P2100W | Polyamide wax paste | Strong steric hindrance for superior metallic orientation; excellent sag resistance and anti-settling. |
| RHEOLATE® 290 | Non-ionic associative thickener | Rapid shear-thinning for outstanding leveling in thin films; fast structure recovery for optimal pigment fixation. |
| RHEOLATE® 150 | Hydrophobically modified alkali swellable emulsion | Low-shear viscosity for sag resistance and anti-settling; reduces syneresis on storage; easy incorporation. |
| THIXATROL® 5020W | Modified ethylene vinyl acetate emulsion | Excellent viscosity build and thixotropy for anti-settling and sag resistance; high flop index. |
| THIXATROL® 5050W | Modified ethylene vinyl acetate emulsion | Excellent metallic orientation with minimal viscosity impact even at high loads; suitable alone or combined with thixotropes. |
We're adding:
- Enhanced metallic visual effects
Delivers improved gloss, sparkle, flop index, and colour consistency through optimised pigment alignment. - Precise rheology control for orientation
Combines tailored thixotropy and steric hindrance to ensure proper horizontal orientation of metallic flakes during drying. - Superior film appearance and uniformity
Reduces defects such as mottling, floating, and uneven distribution, enabling smoother, more homogeneous coatings. - Improved application robustness
Provides stable performance across broader process conditions (sprayability, viscosity recovery, anti-sag/anti-settling). - Flexible, high-performance formulation solutions
Wide additive portfolio allows customisation for different systems while maintaining efficiency and stability.
Learn more about our metallic pigment orientation solutions and download our brochure for in‑depth technical data and formulation guidance.