ICT Fluorosurfactants

ICT fluorosurfactants encompass Thetawet™, a line of short-chain fluorosurfactants that provide the highest performance in terms of wetting, leveling, liquid penetration, and foam generation and stabilization. Thetawet™ achieves this by reducing surface tension effectively with low end-use concentrations, providing the same level of performance as long-chain fluorinated surfactants that have since been restricted or banned due to PFAS regulations. Surfactants in the Thetawet™ product line comply with the U.S. EPA 2010/15 PFOA Stewardship Program and are typically used in conjunction with other surfactants to increase efficacy. 

Applications for Thetawet™ fluorosurfactants include paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, cleaners, degreasers, mold release coatings, and oilfield brines, to name a few. In aqueous and solvent-based paint and coating applications, Thetawet™ is used to improve wetting and leveling properties that help formulations achieve smooth, even film formations with minimal defects on low–surface energy substrates, such as those made from plastic or metal. Ink applications utilize Thetawet™ in a similar fashion while also leveraging its dye-leveling properties. Additionally, certain Thetawet™ grades also provide antiblocking benefits which may be leveraged in mold release formulations. For cleaning and metalworking formulations, Thetawet™ improves penetration and coverage by lowering surface tension to allow for more effective contact and for the solution to access crevices and porous areas. Thetawet™ is also used in formulations that require foam stability or emulsion stabilization. Certain grades are also available for maximum chemical resistance and compatibility. 

To learn more about Thetawet™, read below to explore our portfolio of available grades. 

Problems solved 
Poor wetting and leveling 
Surface defects in films formed 
High surface tension of solutions 
Blocking issues