Solve Lap Marks and Prevent Floating! A One-Stop Dispersant Solution for Tinting in Floor Coatings and Industrial Paints

On the construction sites of floor coatings and industrial paints, "lap marks" and "floating/flooding" are the terms formulation engineers and applicators dread the most. The former refers to noticeable color differences at coating overlaps, affecting overall aesthetics; the latter describes pigment separation during storage or drying, leading to uneven color. These two "color killers" not only downgrade product quality but can also trigger customer complaints and rework, causing direct economic losses. The root cause often lies in the tinting process—the compatibility between color pastes and base materials, and the long-term dispersion stability of pigments within the system. This article will dissect these pain points and present a proven, one-stop dispersion and stabilization solution, covering everything from paste preparation to the final film.

Whether it's large-area rolling or self-leveling for floor coatings, or spraying for industrial paints, tinted paints face a common challenge during application: the recoatability of the wet film and the recovery ability of the pigment network.

The Essence of Lap Marks: During the interval between coats, solvent evaporation and resin cross-linking in the wet film cause viscosity to rise. When a second coat is applied, solvents from the new layer partially dissolve the surface of the previous film. If pigment dispersion is unstable, localized migration occurs, creating a visible color difference. This tests the dispersant's "anchoring" capability under dynamic application conditions.

The Root of Floating/Flooding: In tinted paints, pigments differ greatly in density, particle size, and surface energy (e.g., carbon black vs. titanium dioxide). If the dispersant provides insufficient steric hindrance or is poorly matched with the resin system, pigments will move according to their own rules during static storage (especially in high-temperature environments), leading to floating or settling. Floating/flooding is the ultimate test of storage stability.

To simultaneously tackle application color differences and storage floating, a single additive is often inadequate. Based on extensive application testing, Anjeka proposes a systematic "Paste Dispersion + Base Wetting + Overall Anti-Settling" three-in-one solution.

1. First Line: The "Intrinsic Stability" of the Color Paste
   The color paste is the source of color, and its stability sets the ceiling for tinting. The versatile paste dispersant Anjeka 6810 is recommended. Tests show that white, black, and blue pastes prepared with it for epoxy floor coatings exhibit stable viscosity (white paste 3500, black paste 4500, blue paste 5000), providing uniform, stable color "masterbatches" for subsequent tinting. For general industrial paint color pastes, Anjeka 6062B or 6040 are also validated choices.

2. Second Line: "Efficient Wetting and Viscosity Reduction" of the Base Material
   The base material (especially high-filler-content floor mid-coats or topcoat bases) requires excellent wetting and dispersion to encapsulate fillers and maintain low viscosity for easy application and paste incorporation. Anjeka 6110 excels here, offering viscosity reduction, anti-settling, and color development. For systems requiring stronger viscosity reduction, Anjeka 6111 is the ideal choice. They ensure the base material itself is a uniform, stable "platform" that can better accept color pastes.

3. Third Line: "Overall Locking and Anti-Settling" of the Tinted System
   This is key to preventing floating/flooding and settling. Two validated approaches exist:

• Option A: Dispersant Synergy, Suppressing Floating from the Grind. In acrylic industrial paint tinted systems, using Anjeka 6161A and 6402 in a 4:1 ratio directly in the grind. Test results show this formulation enables the paint to exhibit no stratification or floating/flooding after 24 hours of heat storage at 50°C, with good viscosity retention.
• Option B: Anti-Settling Rheology Modifier Post-Add, Adjusting Overall Structure. Anjeka 4410 is a highly effective anti-settling agent. Its uniqueness lies in minimal impact on leveling and gloss, while effectively solving floating/flooding issues. By building a gentle thixotropic network, it slows pigment settling and promotes uniform distribution, serving as a "last line of defense" against floating.

How effective is this systematic approach? Let's look at the test data:

• In the Epoxy Floor Coating Field: Floor coatings (gray roller-applied, deep phthalo blue roller-applied, and self-leveling) formulated using the Anjeka additive system (e.g., 6110/6111/6810/4410, etc.) underwent rigorous rub-out and lap mark tests. The color difference ΔE was consistently ≤0.3, achieving a uniformity indistinguishable to the naked eye, with no floating/flooding on the film. Simultaneously, the paint exhibited excellent anti-settling, showing no stratification or caking after 14 days of storage.
• In the Industrial Paint Field: As mentioned, the 6161A + 6402 synergy provides outstanding thermal storage stability for acrylic tinted systems. For floating/flooding issues in epoxy, alkyd, and other systems, Anjeka 6104S or 6161A are commonly used solutions. For example, 6104S, whether added before or after grinding, can effectively resist floating/flooding in systems like acrylic, polyester, and epoxy .

Facing a specific project, how to apply this solution?

Identify the System and Pain Point: First, determine if it's an epoxy floor coating, acrylic industrial paint, or another system. Identify the main pain point: lap marks, storage floating, or both.

Step-by-Step Validation, Combination Testing:

Paste Validation: Use 6810 or the corresponding dispersant to grind the paste, testing initial fineness, viscosity, and post-heat-storage stability.

Base Validation: Add 6110 or 6111 to the base, evaluating viscosity reduction and filler dispersion.

Tinted Paint Overall Validation: Incorporate the paste into the base. It is essential to conduct a 50°C heat storage test (at least 7 days), observing floating/flooding and settling. Simultaneously, simulate application conditions for rub-out and lap mark tests.

Targeted Adjustment: If slight floating persists after heat storage, try post-adding a small amount of Anjeka 4410 or 6104S for fine-tuning (note that 6104S may increase viscosity and slightly affect gloss).

Seek Professional Support: Complex systems may require specific dispersant combinations. Anjeka possesses a rich application database and can provide more precise formulation recommendations.

Lap marks and floating/flooding are the "roadblocks" preventing tinted paints from moving from the lab to the market. Choosing scattered additives often addresses symptoms, not the root cause. What Anjeka offers is a systematic solution from pigment dispersion and base wetting to system stabilization, backed by detailed application data from epoxy floor coatings and industrial paints.

If you are seeking reliable answers for tinting stability, application color differences, or storage floating in floor coatings or industrial paints, please contact us. We can provide you with:

• Free samples and testing protocols tailored to your specific system;
• Detailed epoxy floor coating / industrial paint application test reports;
• Professional technical engineers for one-on-one formulation discussions.

Achieve consistent, stable color—start by choosing a scientific dispersion solution.