A substance added—typically in small quantities—to a liquid in order to reduce its surface tension and allow solids to be more completely wet by the liquid. A variety of wetting agent used in the manufacture of printing inks is called a dispersing agent. Wetting agents are also an important ingredient of offset press fountain solutions so as to increase the solution's ability to rapidly form a thin, continuous film. In many fountain solutions, alcohol or substances called surfactants are added as wetting agents. (See Fountain Solution.)
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