Summary: Matte finishes use matting silica to create micro-roughness that scatters light and lowers gloss. Batch-to-batch gloss drift comes from loading/particle variance and settling, needing anti-settle systems and stable process.
Mechanism
Silica surface area/particle size set matt power per dose; poor dispersion or in-can settling makes gloss uneven top/bottom.
Key data
- Fumed silica's high surface area mattes strongly at low dose but thickens/raises thixotropy.
- Gloss stability depends on dose/dispersion and in-can anti-settle.
- Surface dry-spray lowers gloss further, so parameter drift means uneven sheen.
Factor
| Source | Counter |
|---|---|
| Settling/caking | Weak anti-settle — thixotrope/agent |
| Gloss drift | Dose/particle variance — standardise |
Defects & fixes
- Bottom caking: settling — add anti-settle, stir periodically.
- Same-batch gloss varies: dispersion/dose instability — standardise.
- White specks: overdos or dry-spray — control dose/atomisation.
FAQ
Why does matte gloss drift?
Matting-silica batch/dose/particle variance, settling and dry-spray act together.
How to stabilise gloss?
Fix matting-agent spec and dose, improve dispersion/anti-settle, standardise spraying.
Same as precipitated silica?
Both are fumed silica but matte-grade differs in surface area/particle size/pore.
Ref: matting-scattering mechanism and gloss stability (public).
Kexin New Materials (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. · 2026-09-18