RadTech Study Maps Lower-Emission Paths for Coil Coating
Need to Know
- The life-cycle assessment compares conventional gas-fired convection ovens with ultraviolet, electron-beam and excimer curing.
- It identifies the energy used to heat the metal substrate as the “steel penalty” of conventional coil-coating lines.
- The report models hybrid curing, full energy curing and full electron-beam curing as possible transition pathways.
RadTech has published a life-cycle assessment examining how radiation-curing technologies could reduce the energy use and emissions associated with coil coating.
The report, “Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Radiation Curing Technologies for Coil Coatings,” was authored by Calvin Lakhan, Ph.D., of York University. It compares conventional gas-fired convection ovens with ultraviolet, electron-beam and excimer curing technologies.
The assessment describes the need to heat the metal substrate as the “steel penalty” of conventional coil-coating production. Traditional lines may heat steel to as much as 240 °C to cure a comparatively thin coating film. According to the study announcement, radiation curing acts directly on the coating and avoids heating the entire substrate to the same degree.
The report models three transition scenarios:
- Hybrid curing combines thermally cured primers with radiation-cured finishes.
- Full energy curing uses 100%-solids radiation-curable chemistry across all coating layers and eliminates gas-fired ovens.
- Full electron-beam curing uses a single high-capacity electron-beam station to simplify the production footprint.
RadTech said the scenarios are intended to demonstrate how manufacturers could move away from natural gas while maintaining high production speeds. The full study is available to RadTech members.
Learn more about the assessment through RadTech.
Why It Matters to PCI: Radiation curing could change coil-coating formulation, line design, energy use and volatile organic compound emissions. Follow PCI’s UV coatings coverage.
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