BYK-346 is a silicone surfactant for aqueous coatings, printing inks, and overprint varnishes. It strongly reduces surface tension, improving substrate wetting without increasing surface slip. A solution of BYK-345, it is in liquid form and functions as a surfactant in waterborne coatings and varnishes, enhancing substrate wetting.

Functions: Surfactant

End Uses: Varnishes, Waterborne Coating

Enhanced TDS

Identification & Functionality

Manufactured By
CASE Ingredients Functions
Technologies
Product Families

Features & Benefits

CASE Ingredients Features

Applications & Uses

Coating End Applications
Use Level
0.1 - 1% (total formulation)
Product Applications

Coatings and Printing Inks
Special Features and Benefits

The additive provides a large decrease in surface tension in aqueous systems and therefore improves substrate wetting and leveling in particular. Foam stabilization does not occur or only very minimally and recoatability is not affected. The additive does not increase surface slip. If higher surface slip is desired, we recommend combining it with a polysiloxane such as BYK-333.
Recommended Use: The additive is recommended for all aqueous coatings, printing inks and overprint varnishes which contain a small proportion of organic co-solvent.
Recommended Levels
0.1-1% additive (as supplied) based upon total formulation. The above recommended levels can be used for orientation. Optimal dosage levels are determined through a series of laboratory tests.
Incorporation and Processing Instructions : The additive is preferably added to the finished formulation. It can, however, be added at any stage during production.

Properties

Physical Form
Typical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Flash Point81°C-
Non Volatile Matter (at 150°C in 10 min)45%-
Density (at 20°C)1g/ml-
Active Substance52%-
Solvents
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Dipropylene Glycol Monomethylether48%-
SDS Physical and Chemical Properties
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Ignition Temperaturemin. 392°FDIN 51 794/ DIN prEN 14 522
Density (at 68°F)0.995g/cc4 (Oscillating U-tube, at 20°C)
Lower Explosion Limit1.3%V-
Flash Point177.8°F49 (Pensky-Martens)
Vapor Pressure (at 68°F)0.5hPaDerived
Initial Boiling Point363.2°FDerived
Melting Pointmax. 32°FDerived
pH Value (at 20°C, 10% Concentration)7--
ColorLight Brown--
AppearanceLiquid--
Immiscible inWater--
Upper Explosion Limits8.7%V-
Special Note

Solution of BYK-345. The difference between the amount of active substance and non-volatile matter is due to the synthesis-related excess of low molecular weight polyethers which is determined with our test method as part of the volatile content. The additive requires a small amount of co-solvent in the formulation (approx. 5% of the total solvent content) in order to avoid turbidity. The effectivity of the silicone surfacant is reduced in systems with higher co-solvent amounts. For these types of formulations we recommend the use of polysiloxanes such as BYK-333.