Paint & Coatings Industry - April 2008 - (Page 48)

The Future of UV Coatings is Now! • • • • energy savings (lower costs); improved properties; ability to cure pigmented formulations; improved adhesion to metal and plastics; • automotive industry (plastics); and • new technology (LED curing). The graphic arts, wood, medical/ dental, automotive, rapid prototyping, and LED curing market segments are predicted to have the most growth in the near future. LED curing is defined by the longer wavelengths (greater than 400 nm, but with a much smaller range) that the LED bulbs emit. Some benefits that have been identified include lower energy usage, portability of the “lamps”, increased safety due to the wavelengths used and lower cost versus the current UV lamps. The biggest challenge facing the industry is to find photoinitiators that will initiate the free radical reaction at these longer wavelengths and still give the coating its desired properties. Research into this new technology is ongoing. When You Put A Lot Of Energy Into Your Business It’s Good To Know Blackmer Vane Pumps Will Never Let Your Energy Go To Waste. Energy-efficient sliding vane pumps could save you up to 40% on your electric consumption. ■ Self-adjusting sliding vane technology eliminates energyrobbing slip If your paint & coatings processes could benefit from lower electric consumption and higher flow performance Conclusion Hopefully some of the mystery about UV coatings has been removed and has allowed you to consider some of the potential benefits that a UV system can bring to your paint operation and your products. Some benefits that have already been realized include: reduced operating costs from increased efficiency, compliance with new regulatory requirements, and entrance into new markets. With the substantial growth of UV coatings in the last 15 years, a parallel product/technology comes to mind. Back in the early 90s, water-based liquid coatings were in a similar situation. Great technical strides were being made; enhanced properties were becoming available; emerging markets were ready to take advantage of any breakthrough, primarily because of increased regulatory restrictions. All this is why, “The Future of UV Coatings is Now.” Note This paper did not focus on EB (electron beam) cured coatings, since these coatings are used primarily in the graphics arts industry and use electron beams to induce curing, requiring a slightly different formulation as well as lead or concrete shielding for safety reasons. Better Get Blackmer (616) 241-1611 www.blackmer.com References 1 1809 Century Avenue SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1530 Roobol, Norm (1996). Industrial Painting, Gardner Publications 2 Stowe, R.W., Fusion UV Systems (Q2, 2004). The Process Window of UV-Cured Inkjet Printing. SGIA Journal Transport | Military • Marine Process | Energy | Visit ads.pcimag.com PCI02084Blck.indd 1 Tom Slavinsky is a consultant in the coatings industry. He can be reached on his mobile phone at 262/389.0024. 48 APRIL 2008 | W W W . P C I M A G . C O M 1/8/08 11:54:09 AM http://www.blackmer.com http://www.blackmer.com http://ads.pcimag.com http://WWW.PCIMAG.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Paint & Coatings Industry - April 2008

Paint & Coatings Industry - April 2008 Contents Viewpoint Industry News Calendar of Events Company News Mergers and Acquisitions Names in the News Snapshots of Success – Automotive Applications Designing UV-Curable Materials for High-Temperature Optical Fiber Applications The Future of UV Coatings is Now! Milling Media Review Part 1 – Bead Density Effect Preparation and Properties of UV-Curable Polyurethane Acrylate Resins for Metal Surfaces Conquering Color Harmony High-Performance PU Crosslinkers for Two-Component Waterborne Applications Decorative Film Laminates How Long Will the Gilding Glitter? Gaining a Competitive Advantage Using Benchmarking Supplier Showcase Materials Watch Products and Literature Classifieds Advertiser Index Automotive Color Trends New England Museum Solves Century-Old Vanderbilt Mansion Mystery

Paint & Coatings Industry - April 2008

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