Dear Mike:
I happened to be doing a search on wetting agents and ran across your
question re wetting agents.
Of course, there are many possible choices. I am not an expert in
electroplating or the electronic industries, but we are a producer and
importer of certain specialty wetting agents based on alkyl naphthalene
sulfonate chemistry. I know that some naphthalene sulfonates are used in
plating baths to get better contact, etc.
These are powders or solutions of same that are quite economical relative to
other wetting agents that show very good stability to acids, salts, very low
toxicity and good thermal stability. Examples that we supply include the
isopropyl, butyl, and other derivatives of naphthalene sulfonic acid. We
have a mono-butyl that is an exceptional wetting agent used in photographic
film manufacturing by one of the major film companies. They are fairly low
foaming.
Product names are in the "Galoryl" family of products, like Galoryl MT 704,
Mt 810, MT 809cp, etc.
Other wetting agents that you might try include dodecyl benzene sulfonic
acid (an old product that is very widely used), dioctyl sulfosuccinate
(economical, excellent wetter, but high foam), alpha-olefin sulfonates, and
in the range of non-ionics, certain alkoxylated alcohols (like a C9 alcohol
with some EO on it) and certain block copolymers of EO/PO (BASF pluronic
series is the main exponent, but there are a number of other producers).
Some more expensive ionics that could be very good include the polystyrene
sulfonates and copolymers of same (Nat. Starch/Alco), certain fluorinated
surfactants (Dupont and 3M e.g. Zonyl brand), and some "superwetters" from
silicone chemistry (call any of the silicone companies such as Goldschmidt,
OSI, etc.).
Hope this helps. Let me know if you want to screen any of our stuff. The
MT 809cp is a really good one, although more expensive than the others due
to high purity levels for the photo apps.
Vic Granquist
Product Development Mgr.
Lobeco Products, Inc.
843-846-8171 ext 238
Lobecoproducts.com
