Because of their unique chemistry and significant formulating benefits, Gemini surfactants are seen by many as the key to overcoming the environmental and performance challenges facing ink formulators. Conventional surfactants have a single, hydrophobic group or "tail" connected to a hydrophilic head. In contrast, Gemini surfactants have two hydrophilic heads connected to two or three hydrophobic tails.
It is because of the dimeric nature of the two-head groups that these materials have been dubbed "Gemini surfactants" after the twins of Greek mythology. This molecular structure produces highly efficient, multipurpose additives that enable the use of water as a solvent. Specific performance properties include significantly reduced surface tension at lower use levels to eliminate print defects, better foam control, better dispersion of solids, improved wetting, and decreased wetting times in pigment dispersions.
One family of Gemini surfactants has been widely used in the inks industry for more than three decades. These Gemini surfactants, Air Products' Surfynol® and Dynol® surfactants, have proven to be multifunctional problem solvers, providing specific performance benefits in a broad range of applications. |
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