RadTech UV/EB Technology Conference & Expo 2008
May 4-7, 2008
Lakeside Center at McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois - United States of America

UV-PUDs: High Performance Solutions for Indoor and Outdoor Wood Coatings
Jon Shaw, CYTEC Industries, Inc.
Abstract: UV/EB, or energy curable (EC) technology has become well established in the Graphic Arts and Industrial Coatings markets, especially for wood coatings and printing inks. High productivity and excellent performance were some of the initial drivers to switch to this solvent free technology, while regulations and a desire to keep energy costs down are currently spurring on the adoption of energy curable solutions.  Solvent borne systems offer the advantages of sprayability and film build control, necessary for good appearance, while EC coatings offer the benefits of high throughput and superior scratch, abrasion and chemical resistance. However, 100% solids EC coatings often employ low MW, multifunctional acrylates as diluents to reduce viscosity. The use of these products can have adverse effects on the performance of the coating and can sometimes lead to problematic adhesion due to the shrinkage. This paper will demonstrate the ability of UV curable polyurethane dispersions (UV-PUDs) to "bridge the gap" between solvent borne coatings and 100% solids EC systems, by employing water instead of diluents to control viscosity, while still delivering the productivity and performance generally associated with EC coatings. The paper will also highlight new developments in UV-PUDs, including resins with exterior durability for joinery and dual cure resins for highly pigmented systems.

Water-Reducible, Self-Initiating Acrylic Resins with High Formulation
Versatility and Application
Michael Gould, Ashland Performance Materials
Abstract: Formulators in both Europe and North America are faced with customer demands to reduce or completely eliminate the use of low molecular weight diluent monomers, such as HDDA, in 100% UV acrylate-based coating systems. Until now, adjustment of formulation rheology without monomers was only practical when utilizing large amounts of water or solvent. Solvent use in most applications is unacceptable for cost and environmental reasons. A drawback in using waterborne technology is the high energy demand and relatively low overall cure speed of systems where water needs to be flashed off prior to UV cure. A breakthrough has now been made with self-initiating resin technology, not only allowing for the formulation of coatings with reduced photoinitiator content, but also allowing for greatly reduced water content. The primary achievement is the formulation of low viscosity coating systems, providing full cure at very low energy levels, using only very low levels of added water to reduce viscosity and without the need for flashing-off water prior to UV-cure.

The New Frontier: Waterborne UV Coatings for Plastics
Patricia Jacobs, Bayer MaterialScience
Abstract: Waterborne UV coating systems have been well established in wood and furniture production over the last decade. High productivity, extremely low VOC and excellent quality, especially in spray coating applications, were the reasons for that success story. A similar development is now taking place for the coating of plastics. We will compare the chemistry, application and performance characteristics of new waterborne UV systems with existing solventborne UV or thermosetting coatings. Examples include high-gloss clearcoats on basecoats, pigmented single-layer coatings with good adhesion on various plastic substrates and soft-touch coatings.

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