The chemicals industry is a very diverse industry making a wide variety of products catering to thousands of applications. Ultrasonic processing is a critical part of manufacturing various products in this industry. Sonochemistry is commonly used for the preparation of nanomaterials and surface functionalization i.e. making more surface area available for processing.

In the production of paints and high-performance coatings, ultrasonics is used in dispersing, deagglomerating and milling pigment particles into nanoparticles. These pigments which are generally metal oxide particles provide colour on dispersion in the correct medium. The size of these pigments is a critical factor in the properties of the final finish. Ultrasonic processing reduces the size of the particles ensuring homogeneity.

High-performance coatings were typically solvent-based. However, due to climate change and increasingly stringent regulations against volatile organic compounds, solvent prices are rising significantly. As a result, water-based coatings are becoming more prevalent. Ultrasonic processing helps emulsify polymers in these coatings.

Nanoparticles used in coatings typically agglomerate while mixing. Ultrasonic processing helps effectively disperse and deagglomerate these particles. This is more effective than incumbent techniques like rotor-stator mixing, bead or colloid milling and high pressure homogenizing. Ultrasonic processing can be used in high viscosity liquids as well as liquids with a high solid concentration.

In the production of ink pigments, ultrasonics is used for dispersion and wet milling. It is usable in water as well as solvent-based inks. Reduction of particle sizes is important to reduce inkjet nozzle failures.

As agriculture becomes more mechanized, like industry, pollution and safety norms become more important. In the production of pesticides and insecticides, a majority of the active ingredients are insoluble in water. Due to the unsuitability of such products, pesticide and insecticide nanoemulsions are created using ultrasonic processors. These are soluble in water, lower cost, more potent and less toxic.