Evonik Launches TEGO® Wet 288: A High-Performance, Food-Contact Compliant Wetting Additive for Waterborne and UV-Cured Inks

Evonik Launches TEGO® Wet 288: A High-Performance, Food-Contact Compliant Wetting Additive for Waterborne and UV-Cured Inks

(IN BRIEF) Evonik Coating Additives has launched TEGO® Wet 288, a breakthrough substrate wetting additive designed specifically for waterborne inkjet inks and radiation-cured formulations. TEGO® Wet 288 distinguishes itself by maintaining low surface tension and long-term stability in high pH waterborne formulations, while also ensuring that reprintability and adhesion are not compromised in radiation-cured inks and varnishes. In addition to superior performance metrics compared to traditional silicone-based solutions, TEGO® Wet 288 meets extensive food contact compliance standards, allowing its use in food packaging. Developed in close consultation with customers, this product is positioned as a significant enhancement to Evonik’s already extensive portfolio of solvent-free, high-performance additives for various ink and varnish systems.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESSEN, 11-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Evonik Coating Additives has introduced TEGO® Wet 288, an innovative substrate wetting additive that effectively addresses the challenges found in waterborne inkjet inks and radiation-cured formulations. Unlike traditional silicone-based wetting additives—which often lose their efficacy in high pH aqueous systems over long-term storage or adversely affect reprintability and glueability in radiation-cured applications—TEGO® Wet 288 maintains superior performance and stability.

In waterborne inkjet applications, this novel additive markedly lowers the surface tension of the formulation and sustains its effectiveness during extended storage, outperforming competing solutions. Additionally, when used in radiation-cured inks and varnishes, TEGO® Wet 288 not only provides robust surface tension reduction and exceptional wetting properties, but also preserves the ability for reprinting and maintains good adhesion characteristics.

The product is engineered to comply with broad food contact standards, expanding its suitability to include food packaging applications. “We developed this innovative technology through close collaboration with our customers,” explained Kai Yang, Project Manager and Head of Applied Research & Technologies Americas INKS at Evonik Coating Additives. “Our TEGO® Wet 288 shows a performance profile that was previously thought to be unattainable.”

Susanne Struck, Global Head of Market Segment INKS at Evonik Coating Additives, added, “TEGO® Wet 288 is the perfect addition to our comprehensive portfolio of solvent-free, high-performance additives for waterborne and UV-cured inks and varnishes, all of which feature broad food contact compliance.” Evonik’s Coating Additives division continues to offer a broad range of co-binders and additives tailored for waterborne, radiation-curable, solventborne, and inkjet printing systems, further strengthening its market presence.

About Evonik

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €15.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2,1 billion in 2024. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable, and sustainable solutions for customers. About 32,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.

About Specialty Additives

The Specialty Additives division combines the businesses of versatile additives and high-performance crosslinkers. They make end products more valuable, more durable, save more energy and simply better. As formulation experts in fast growing markets such as coatings, mobility, infrastructure and consumer goods, Specialty Additives combines a small amount with a big effect. With around 3,400 employees the division generated sales of €3.57 billion in 2024.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.

Media Contacts:

Janusz Berger
Head of Market Communications Health Care
+49 6151 18-4984
janusz.berger@evonik.com

Dr. Jürgen Krauter
Head of Market Communications
+49 6181 59-6847
juergen.krauter@evonik.com

SOURCE: Evonik