Addivion DISP 20 is a 100% solvent-free wetting and dispersing additive based on a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, designed for solvent-borne, solvent-free, and aqueous coatings, printing inks, and UV-curable systems. Supplied at approximately 97% non-volatile content, it delivers strong viscosity reduction, reduced thixotropic flow behavior, and improved long-term storage stability. The product is widely used across industrial coatings, coil coatings, wood and furniture coatings, marine and protective coatings, and UV-curable printing inks where excellent pigment stabilization is essential.
Addivion DISP 20 Overview
Addivion DISP 20 belongs to the family of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer dispersants, engineered to combine wetting and stabilizing action in a single 100% active, solvent-free additive. This dual-mechanism approach allows the product to wet solid particles quickly during milling while also stabilizing the resulting dispersion against flocculation over the long term, an especially valuable combination for organic pigments and carbon black, which are among the most difficult pigment types to disperse and stabilize.
Supplied as a solvent-free liquid at approximately 97% non-volatile matter, the product is ready to use directly in the millbase without additional dilution, making it well suited to high-solids and solvent-free formulations where minimizing added liquid volume is a formulation priority. Its balanced product polarity gives it broad applicability across solvent-borne, solvent-free, aqueous, and UV-curable systems alike.
Key Features
- 100% solvent-free, styrene-maleic anhydride chemistry: Addivion DISP 20 is supplied as a fully active, solvent-free additive, avoiding unnecessary VOC contribution to the final formulation.
- Effective viscosity reduction: The product delivers a strong viscosity-reducing effect while simultaneously lowering thixotropic flow behavior, supporting easier processing of high-solids millbases.
- Excellent stabilization of organic pigments and carbon black: The product is particularly effective for difficult-to-disperse organic and carbon black pigment systems, improving color strength and transparency.
- Broad system compatibility: Addivion DISP 20 performs across solvent-free, solvent-borne, and aqueous coatings as well as 100% UV-curable systems, simplifying additive selection for multi-technology formulators.
- Improved optical and storage properties: Coatings and inks formulated with the product show increased gloss, reduced haze, and significantly improved long-term storage stability.
Typical Applications
Addivion DISP 20 is primarily used as a wetting and dispersing additive for pigment concentrates and finished coatings, especially in industrial, coil, and wood and furniture coating systems where its high dosage tolerance for carbon black and organic pigments supports deep, stable color development. It is also well suited to marine and protective coating formulations that demand long-term dispersion stability under variable storage conditions.
Beyond coatings, the product is also applied in UV-curable and solvent-free printing inks, where its 100% active delivery form and strong deflocculating effect support superior optical properties. For rheology modification alongside pigment dispersion, formulators often evaluate Addivion RHEO 18 in combination with this grade.
Technical Specifications
The product is characterized by the following indicative technical parameters; confirmed values will be provided in the final product specification sheet.
- Chemical type: Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer
- Delivery form: 100% solvent-free liquid
- Non-volatile matter: Approximately 97%
- Density: To be confirmed based on the final specification sheet.
- Acid value: To be confirmed based on the final specification sheet.
- Amine value: To be confirmed based on the final specification sheet.
- Flash point: To be confirmed based on the final specification sheet.
- Function: Wetting and dispersing additive for pigments and fillers
Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Dispersant Chemistry
Styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer dispersants such as Addivion DISP 20 work through a combination of steric and, to a lesser extent, electrostatic stabilization mechanisms. The copolymer backbone adsorbs onto the pigment surface through anchoring groups derived from the anhydride functionality, while the styrene-rich segments extend into the surrounding medium to provide steric hindrance against particle reapproach and flocculation. Because the product is supplied 100% solvent-free, it contributes no additional volatile content to the formulation, which is particularly valuable in high-solids and solvent-free coating and ink systems where VOC budgets are tightly constrained.
As with all wetting and dispersing additives, the product should be pre-mixed into the binder, solvent, or reactive thinner before pigment addition, rather than added afterward, to achieve optimal wetting efficiency. Recommended dosage varies significantly by pigment type: inorganic pigments typically require only 2-10% of additive based on pigment weight, while organic pigments require 15-35% and carbon black may require as much as 20-70%, reflecting the very high surface area of these more difficult-to-wet pigment classes.
Storage Recommendations
- Store in the original, tightly sealed container, protected from moisture, heat, and foreign material.
- Recommended storage temperature: 0-30°C.
- Shelf life: To be confirmed based on the final specification sheet.
- Protect from direct sunlight during storage and transport.
Documentation & Compliance
Each shipment of the product is supported by standard quality and compliance documentation to help customers manage incoming inspection, formulation approval, and downstream regulatory reporting.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA): Provided per batch
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS): Mandatory prior to handling
- Labels: Prepared in accordance with applicable regulations
- Industrial and professional use only
Formulation Guidance
When formulating with this dispersing additive, pigment type, surface area, and the polarity of the binder system all influence the optimum dosage and resulting millbase viscosity. Formulators are encouraged to run a small dosage matrix across the recommended range for the target pigment class to identify the level that delivers the best balance of viscosity reduction, color strength, and long-term storage stability. For applications requiring additional surface leveling alongside pigment dispersion, formulators may also wish to evaluate Addivion SURF 55 as a complementary additive.
Because the product is 100% active and solvent-free, it is fully compatible with high-solids and solvent-free coating and ink formulations without introducing additional volatile content. For pigment systems already using an alternative wetting agent, compatibility should be confirmed through small-scale trials before full-batch formulation, and comparison against Addivion DISP 00 can help determine the most cost-effective dispersant for a given pigment loading.
Packaging & Logistics
- Packaging: Approved industrial packaging
- MOQ: Subject to packaging configuration
- Lead time: Indicative lead time, to be confirmed upon order acceptance
- Incoterms: Quoted case by case
Addivion DISP 20: Safety & Handling
Addivion DISP 20 should be handled in accordance with standard industrial hygiene practices for coatings and printing ink additives. Users are advised to review the Safety Data Sheet prior to handling and to implement appropriate personal protective equipment and engineering controls as specified therein. As with all dispersing additives, small-scale compatibility and dosage trials are recommended before full-batch formulation to confirm performance in the target pigment and binder system.
Safety Data Sheet and destination-compliant labeling information for the product are available upon request. For related additive options, see also Addivion DISP 00 and Addivion WET 11.