Evonik launches new biosurfactants for coatings and inks

Evonik's Coating Additives division launches innovative biosurfactants designed for coatings and inks formulations. The two new products, TEGO Wet 570 Terra and TEGO Wet 580 Terra, will revolutionize the paints, coatings and inks industry by combining high performance with outstanding sustainability.

These biosurfactants are produced by microorganisms in a unique fermentation process. Unlike fossil-based surfactants, they are 100% derived from natural resources. In addition to their extremely low content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), their natural origin makes them readily biodegradable and well tolerated by aquatic organisms. TEGO Wet 570 Terra and TEGO Wet 580 Terra are designed for water-based coatings and inks.

“With TEGO Wet 570 Terra and TEGO® Wet 580 Terra, we are offering our customers new high-performance solutions while also driving the green transformation of the paints and coatings industry,” said Elias Lacerda, Head of Evonik’s Coating Additives business.

They enable fast wetting of pigments and fillers, which reduces grinding time and energy consumption, saving energy for customers and making production processes more efficient.

Katina Kiep, Head of Decorative Coatings at Evonik Coating Additives, added: “Our TEGO Wet 570 Terra and TEGO Wet 580 Terra are suitable for water-based decorative paints, industrial and transportation coatings and inks. Their unique properties and the fact that they meet the strict criteria of the EU Ecolabel make them ideal for our customers to formulate coatings for a sustainable future.”

Most of these biosurfactants are produced in Slovakia. Evonik leads the development of biosurfactants on an industrial scale with its IP-protected fermentation-based rhamnolipid production process. Rhamnolipids are produced from renewable corn raw materials using a biotechnological process. The end product is a high-performance, non-toxic, biodegradable biosurfactant.

Tim-Frederic Sloot, Head of Sustainability at Evonik Coating Additives, added: “These new products not only demonstrate our strong innovation capabilities, but also our commitment to driving positive change in the development of environmentally friendly solutions and setting new standards for additives in the coatings and inks industry.”