Drying agents are chemical compounds that accelerate the drying of solvent-based formulated paints, as well as printing inks and varnishes that dry by auto oxidation (due to oxygen present in the air). Dryers are generally metal carboxylates dissolved in compatible solvents.
The drying process is the conversion of a liquid coating into a solid film. In the case of the alkyd, the drying process begins with the evaporation of the solvent and a simultaneous absorption of oxygen from the atmosphere, this followed by a series of chemical reactions which together are called auto-oxidant polymerization and which produce as a result a progressive hardening of the applied coating. However, if drying agents are not used, the reaction time is excessively long, so with the addition of the drying agents the drying time is reduced to an acceptable level. In short, the function of drying agents is simply to accelerate and modify the natural tendency towards film formation.
