CRAYVALLAC® SF is a proprietary amide-modified hydrogenated castor oil rheology modifier with an enhanced tolerance to temperature and solvent strength suitable for a variety of different solvent-based systems e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbon/alcohol blends. Compared to other hydrogenated castor oil based rheology modifiers, CRAYVALLAC® SF is more tolerant to strong solvents and high processing temperatures due to the presence of its unique performance enhancing amide. The activation process constitutes the conversion of the CRAYVALLAC® SF particles to an interacting network of fibre-like particles. It is this network that gives rise to the final coating’s shear thinning rheology. This shear thinning characteristic providesa very high viscosity under the low shear rates associated with sedimentation, and a low viscosity at the much higher application shear rates. The net result is excellent control of sedimentation combined with ease of application.