Evonik Launches TEGO® Wet 288: A Breakthrough in Substrate Wetting for Waterborne and Radiation-Curing Formulations
In the ever-evolving landscape of specialty chemicals and coating technologies, Evonik Coating Additives has once again demonstrated its commitment to innovation with the launch of TEGO® Wet 288, a next-generation substrate wetting additive specifically engineered for waterborne and radiation-curable formulations. This new additive marks a major step forward in overcoming some of the long-standing limitations associated with conventional wetting technologies, especially those involving silicone-based chemistries.
Addressing the Challenges of Modern Coating Formulations
Wetting additives play a crucial role in achieving the desired surface coverage and uniformity of coatings, especially in demanding applications like printing inks, varnishes, and packaging materials. In particular, substrate wetting becomes essential when dealing with low-energy surfaces, such as plastics, or when formulating high-performance coatings that must maintain adhesion, clarity, and functional attributes like printability or glueability.
Traditional wetting agents—many of which are silicone-based—have provided reasonable solutions for these challenges. However, they also bring significant trade-offs. These include loss of activity over time, especially in high pH aqueous environments, and undesirable interactions in radiation-cured systems, which can affect reprocessing steps like reprinting or gluing. These limitations restrict their use in critical applications such as food packaging, flexible packaging, or high-resolution inkjet printing.
Recognizing this need, Evonik’s research and development team embarked on a project to deliver a new class of wetting additive that would retain the performance benefits of silicone-based materials while eliminating their drawbacks.
Innovation Through Collaboration
“We developed this innovative technology through close collaboration with our customers,” said Kai Yang, Project Manager and Head of Applied Research & Technologies Americas INKS at Evonik Coating Additives. “Our TEGO® Wet 288 shows a performance profile that was previously thought to be unattainable.”
Customer-centric innovation lies at the heart of Evonik’s product development philosophy. By working closely with formulators, printing specialists, and application engineers across multiple industries, Evonik was able to identify the performance gaps and create a solution that addresses both technical and regulatory needs.
Superior Performance in Waterborne Formulations
One of the most compelling features of TEGO® Wet 288 is its ability to maintain a high level of performance over long periods, even under high pH conditions typically found in waterborne ink systems. Waterborne coatings are prized for their environmental profile, as they replace traditional solvent-based systems with water as the carrier. However, they come with unique formulation challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining surface tension control and long-term storage stability.
TEGO® Wet 288 is specifically engineered to reduce surface tension significantly in these waterborne formulations, ensuring excellent substrate wetting. More importantly, it retains this effect over time, thereby minimizing the risk of formulation drift and reducing rework or performance failure in end-use applications.
This makes it particularly well-suited for inkjet inks, which demand extremely consistent behavior during jetting, droplet formation, and substrate interaction. Any degradation in additive performance over time could result in printing defects or changes in adhesion properties, which are unacceptable in high-quality digital printing environments.
Breakthrough Capabilities in Radiation-Cured Inks
In addition to its advantages in waterborne systems, TEGO® Wet 288 excels in radiation-curable (UV and EB) inks and varnishes, where it provides strong surface tension reduction without the common side effects of traditional silicone-based wetting agents. Radiation-cured systems are gaining traction across industries due to their fast curing speeds, low VOC content, and high-performance finish, making them ideal for packaging, electronics, and high-end graphics.
A known issue with silicone-based wetting agents in radiation-cured systems is their tendency to interfere with downstream processing, such as reprinting or gluing. These interferences are due to the migration of silicone to the surface, forming a layer that resists adhesion.
TEGO® Wet 288 solves this problem by combining high efficiency in surface tension reduction with a low migration profile, ensuring that printability and glueability remain intact. This characteristic is critical for applications like folding cartons or multi-layer packaging, where multiple coatings or printing passes may be required.
Food Contact Compliance: Expanding Application Horizons
Beyond its exceptional technical performance, TEGO® Wet 288 also meets broad food contact compliance standards, significantly widening the scope of applications. This includes packaging materials intended to come into direct or indirect contact with food, such as printed labels, wrappers, cartons, and flexible films.
The additive’s hydrophobic surfactant structure, paired with low migration properties, ensures it can be safely used in formulations designed for the stringent requirements of food-grade packaging. With growing demand for safer, sustainable, and high-performance materials in the packaging industry, TEGO® Wet 288 offers a highly attractive solution for formulators, brand owners, and converters alike.
“This product aligns perfectly with the increasing regulatory scrutiny and consumer demand for safe materials,” said Susanne Struck, Global Head of Market Segment INKS at Evonik Coating Additives. “TEGO® Wet 288 is the perfect addition to our comprehensive portfolio of solvent-free, high-performance additives for waterborne and UV-cured inks and varnishes, all of which feature broad food contact compliance.”
Sustainability and Compliance as a Strategic Focus
The launch of TEGO® Wet 288 reflects Evonik’s broader strategic goals in the area of sustainable coatings and ink technologies. The company has been steadily expanding its portfolio of solvent-free, low-VOC, and compliant additives, with a strong emphasis on circular economy, resource efficiency, and eco-friendly formulations.
By offering wetting additives that do not compromise on performance or compliance, Evonik helps its customers accelerate their sustainability roadmaps. This includes meeting global regulatory requirements like:
- FDA (USA) and EU regulations for food contact materials
- VOC content restrictions in architectural and industrial coatings
- Recyclability and end-of-life safety of packaging materials
Broad Portfolio for the Ink and Coatings Industry
TEGO® Wet 288 is just one part of Evonik’s diverse and robust Coating Additives business line, which includes:
- Co-binders for inks and coatings that enhance film formation and adhesion
- Defoamers to eliminate surface defects
- Dispersing agents for improved pigment stabilization
- Flow and leveling agents for smoother finishes
- Other specialty surfactants designed to enhance surface and interfacial interactions
These products are compatible with a wide range of systems, including waterborne, radiation-curable, solventborne, and inkjet printing formulations. This makes Evonik a one-stop solution provider for formulators looking to balance performance, compliance, and cost-efficiency.
Supporting Innovation Across End Markets
The development of TEGO® Wet 288 not only meets existing market needs but also anticipates future trends in the coatings and printing industries. Key market segments that stand to benefit include:
- Digital and inkjet printing for commercial and industrial applications
- Flexible and rigid packaging
- Food and beverage labeling
- Industrial wood coatings
- Decorative coatings for consumer products
In each of these sectors, the ability to deliver reliable, compliant, and sustainable performance is becoming a competitive differentiator. With TEGO® Wet 288, Evonik helps its customers unlock this potential.
Final Thoughts
In an increasingly regulated and performance-driven marketplace, the launch of TEGO® Wet 288 highlights Evonik’s proactive approach to innovation and problem-solving. By addressing the specific needs of waterborne and radiation-curing technologies—while also satisfying food contact compliance—this additive represents a leap forward in substrate wetting science.
It offers formulators a unique opportunity to simplify formulation complexity, reduce risk, and enhance product reliability, all while supporting sustainability goals and regulatory compliance.
Whether you’re developing high-end printing inks, food-safe packaging materials, or next-generation UV-cured coatings, TEGO® Wet 288 opens up new possibilities for performance and peace of mind.
