Wetting agents: functions and applications in the ceramic industry

Wettability is, in general terms, the property that describes a liquid's ability to adhere to a solid surface.

It can also be understood as the process through which effective contact is established between a liquid and a solid.

In some cases, solid surfaces exhibit low wettability—a characteristic that, while not inherently problematic, can lead to significant issues in the ceramic industry.

When raw ceramic bodies or suspended particles display poor wettability, production inefficiencies may arise, ultimately affecting the quality of the final product.

Wetting additives play a crucial role in creating the optimal conditions for achieving proper substrate wettability.

But how do they work, and in which applications are they most commonly used?