Penetrant

Name:
Penetrant
Detailed information:
Any agent used to increase the speed and ease with which a bath or liquid permeates a material being processed by effectively reducing the interfacial tension between the solid and liquid. Penetrants are widely used in the textile, tanning, and paper industries for improving dyeing, finishing, etc. operations. Sulfonated oils, soluble pine oils, and soaps are popular among the older penetrants, and the salts of sulfated higher alcohols are typical of the synthetic organics developed for this purpose.See Wetting Agent.