Optimization of Vacuum Applied UV -Curable Coatings Performance Using Formulation and Instrumental Parameters

摘要

Vacuum coating has been used since the early 1970's to apply waterborne formulations to mouldings and other linear objects. This technology is now employed to apply UV curable coatings to products made of wood, composites, plastics and metals. Formulations based on low viscosity acrylated epoxies, urethanes and polyesters have been developed and applied with a vacuum coater. Formulations based on polyester acrylates were employed to examine the effect of coating viscosity and instrumentation parameters on the applied coating's thickness and performance. Formulation viscosity, coating line speed, and vacuum level are parameters that can be varied to control the amount of applied coating and its final appearance. These results provide general guidelines to optimize the 100% solids UV curable coating's performance when applied by vacuum coating.