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...material selection. By altering three basic variables of the waterborne UV resin (UV acrylate selection, incorporation type, and modification), suppliers are able to offer a wide variety of products with tailored performances and behaviors. By choosing the appropriately designed UV resin and managing other formulation and application variables, the coating formulator can meet customers' needs with the use of waterborne UV chemistry.
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UV-curable technology is the fastest growing coating type in the wood segment with an estimated annual growth rate of 9%, almost three times the growth rate of other technologies. (1) Currently, this chemistry represents less than a tenth of the total wood coatings segment value, and therefore has a large market potential. This wood coatings segment includes such applications as kitchen cabinets, furniture, and flooring. As seen in Figure 1, this market segment represents one of the highest percentages of the UV coatings market, and is therefore a desired market for UV coatings and raw material suppliers. (2)
UV chemistry in wood coatings is gaining market share because it enables the end user to increase production efficiency while lowering solvent emissions. It also has the advantage of requiring only a small equipment footprint, so less floor space is needed. The overall system for the coating applicator is cost effective because of increased production speeds and lower energy costs. There is also the cost advantage of a quicker inventory turnover of coated parts as UV cure offers the benefits of excellent chemical and block resistance, which allows for stacking, packing, and shipping right off the production line. Although there are many advantages in switching to UV cure, the applicator must overcome several obstacles, including higher equipment costs, higher raw material costs, and the inability to properly cure thick films or complex geometries (see Table 1).
In choosing UV coating technology, the formulator has three chemistry options for the UV functional resin: waterborne, 100% solids, and solventborne. The latter two have been the primary technologies available; however, waterborne UV chemistry is becoming a viable and growing alternative due to its advantages (see Table 2). Not only does...
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