A new cure for coating plastics: UV technology overcomes ago-old processing problems

• Published in: Metal finishing Vol. 103; no. 5; pp. 80 - 86
• Main Authors: Smeets, S, Boerrigter, E, Peeters, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2005
• ISSN: 0026-0576
• DOI: 10.1016/S0026-0576(05)80392-7

The increasing use of plastic as a construction material in the automotive electronic, and telecommunication fields means their coatability is becoming very important. Finding a universal coating for all types of plastics is still a utopia. Their low surface energies and sensitivity to temperature and solvents make many plastics difficult to coat. The number of different materials consisting of homopolymers or blends of different polymers is enormous and most require tailor-made solutions. Moreover, due to different intrinsic properties within a polymer family, different properties are targeted. Optimization and fine-tuning of well-known materials by blending or using additives to obtain better properties require simultaneous adjustment of the coating properties. The current drive towards cheaper polymers is determined primarily by their coatability to obtain the required surface aesthetics. With UV technology, one is no longer limited to coating plastics with solvent-based products. Solvent coatings are inhibited by their high VOC emissions; space-consuming, logn thermal drying tunnels are required; and curing speed is limited. Not only does UV technology overcome these problems, it offers other advantages such as the ability to coat heat-sensitive substrates and performance improvement such as scratch and stain resistance, which are becoming increasingly important. UV resins are well established for surface protection and decoration in many applications such as electronics, furniture, and construction. But their use on plastic substrates is still limited.