Vanconol® LFS-211 Branched Alcohol Surfactant
Vanconol® LFS-211 Branched Alcohol Surfactant
Abstract
Vanconol® LFS-211 is a branched alcohol gemini surfactant produced by hydrogenation of an acetylenic diol, developed to address insufficient dynamic wetting and foam control in waterborne systems. Its key benefits include efficiently reducing dynamic surface tension (37.9 mN/m at 6 bubbles/s in a 0.1% aqueous solution), combining wetting and foam-control functions, and providing excellent chemical stability. Compared with conventional linear surfactants, its branched structure significantly suppresses foam generation, and it is APEO-free, making it suitable for high-performance waterborne systems such as architectural coatings, industrial inks and wood coatings. It is a suitable option for improving process efficiency and product performance.
Core Product Information
| Item | LFS-211 |
|---|---|
| Chemical type | 2,4,7,9-Tetramethyl-4,7-decanediol |
| Appearance (25°C) | Colorless to pale yellow viscous liquid |
| Active Matter (wt.%) | >95% |
| Solubility | Sparingly soluble in water; readily soluble in organic solvents such as acetone |
Key Performance Indicators
| Performance | LFS-211 |
|---|---|
| Static surface tension (0.1% aqueous solution) | 37.0 mN/m |
| Dynamic surface tension at 6 bubbles/s (0.1% aqueous solution) | 37.9 mN/m |
| Foam-control performance | Significantly suppresses foam generation, combining wetting and defoaming functions |
| Environmental properties | APEO-free |
Main Features and Advantages
- Excellent dynamic wetting: Rapidly lowers dynamic surface tension, improving spreading efficiency in high-shear processes such as spraying and printing.
- Low-foam performance: The branched molecular structure effectively disrupts foam film elasticity, suppressing foam at the source.
- Broad chemical compatibility: Good acid and alkali resistance and compatible with most resins and additives.
- Environmentally friendly and safe: APEO-free and compliant with green chemistry standards.
Recommended Application Fields
- Architectural coatings: Used in interior/exterior latex paints, waterproof coatings and similar systems to improve penetration into porous substrates (such as cement and gypsum board), reduce foam residue during brushing or roller coating, and improve film uniformity and hiding power.
- Industrial coatings: Serves as a wetting and leveling agent in metal protective paints and automotive coatings, enhancing adhesion to hydrophobic surfaces and helping reduce craters or fisheyes during high-temperature curing.
- Printing inks: Suitable for waterborne flexographic/gravure inks, improving dye dispersion stability, ensuring uniform ink layer spreading during high-speed printing and reducing dot blurring or missed printing.
- Wood coatings: Used in waterborne wood coating formulations to promote penetration into wood pores, enhance color uniformity and suppress foam interference during sanding or spraying.
- Adhesives: Improves wetting of plastics and metals in waterborne adhesives, increasing initial tack and final bond strength and helping reduce pinholes caused by foam.
Usage and Recommended Dosage
Addition timing: May be added during the grinding stage to optimize pigment dispersion, or during the let-down stage to adjust leveling.
Dilution: Sparingly soluble in water; pre-dilute with an organic solvent such as acetone (ratio 1:5-1:10), then slowly add to the water phase with high-speed dispersion.
Recommended dosage: 0.1%-1.0% of the total formulation, to be determined by dosage screening based on system polarity and shear conditions (for example, the upper end of the recommended range for high-shear applications).
Precautions: If the product solidifies at low temperature, warm to 40°C and stir until fully dissolved before use; performance is not affected.
Safety and Storage
- Safety precautions: Wear protective glasses and gloves during handling. In case of skin contact, rinse immediately with water; if splashed into eyes, rinse with plenty of water and seek medical attention.
- Storage conditions: Store sealed in a cool, ventilated place, away from heat, sparks and open flames. Good freeze-thaw stability; if solidified under extreme conditions, it can be recovered by heating.
- Packaging: 25 kg drums, 200 kg drums.
- Shelf life: 24 months from the date of manufacture under proper storage conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the differences in molecular structure and application performance between LFS-211 and LFS-212?
A: LFS-211 is a C10 branched alcohol, while LFS-212 is a C12 branched alcohol with a longer carbon chain and slightly stronger hydrophobicity. In application, LFS-212 provides better wetting of very low surface energy substrates (such as PP/PE plastics), while LFS-211 disperses faster in moderately polar systems. Choose based on substrate properties.
Q: Will the “sparingly soluble in water” property affect its dispersion in waterborne systems?
A: No. The product is pre-diluted in an organic solvent before adding to the water phase; the acetylenic diol groups in its molecular structure rapidly orient at the interface to achieve efficient wetting. In practice, proper pre-dilution ensures uniform dispersion and avoids local aggregation that could result from direct addition.
Q: Can this product be combined with anionic surfactants to enhance overall performance?
A: Yes. As a nonionic product, combining it with anionic surfactants produces a synergistic effect, further lowering dynamic surface tension and enhancing foam-control performance. However, preliminary compatibility testing is recommended to avoid reduced system stability from excessive combination.
Q: Is performance stable in high-temperature (>80°C) processes?
A: Yes. The branched alcohol structure offers good heat resistance and maintains surface activity up to 100°C. If the system operates at high temperature for extended periods, small-scale testing is recommended to verify long-term performance.
Contact Us
- If you need free samples, a detailed Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS), or have any technical questions, please contact us through the following channels:
- Company: Tianjin Hi-Perferal Advanced Materials Co., Ltd.
- Address: No. 2-1, Zhenghua Road, Caozili, Wuqing District, Tianjin
- Technical service hotline: 022-82910362
- Website: www.surfychem.com