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What is a wetting agent?

We state that many of our tanks, such as the polyethylene, are not recommended for wetting agents.

A wetting agent is an item that increases the ability of a liquid to penetrate and spread.

Wetting agents include surfactants, foam, alcohols, detergents, and glycols.

Wetting agents are considered stress-cracking agents. Other stress-cracking agents include detergents, surface active chemicals, lubricants, oils, ultra-pure water, and plating additives such as brighteners.
Even at small concentrations, stress-cracking agents can damage your tank. Cross-linked High Density Polyethylene is more resistant to stress-cracking than either Low or High Density Polyethylene. Sometimes, you may need to use a PVDF tank with excellent stress-crack resistance.

Title: What is a wetting agent?
Description: A list of chemicals that are considered wetting agents.
Published: 10/30/2007
Last Edited: 1/17/2023

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