EXTON, PA — Sartomer, a business line of Arkema, has launched in-house electron beam (EB) labs with equipment to help customers develop and test EB-curing formulations on a small scale using the company’s advanced liquid resin solutions. The company has recently installed EB lab units — standalone, compact, simple-to-use electron accelerators — in its R&D centers in France and the United States. A third installation is planned for its Asia operations.
EB curing is a green technology with very low VOC emissions and no solvent waste. Demand for EB-curable materials is growing for many applications including coatings, inks and adhesives. EB curing also is a highly productive process because it enables high-speed processing. Because it does not require heat, it is ideal for sensitive substrates. Additionally, EB curing does not require the use of photoinitiators, which minimizes migration.