Performance Benefits of Incorporating a New Aliphatic Urethane Tetraacrylate in UV Coatings
The ultimate goal for each end user/chemist/formulator is to achieve a perfect blend of physical properties from their finished formulations. For many applications, there is an increasing need for extended service life and enhanced physical properties to reach greater performance levels. For some industrial coatings markets where toughness and flexibility are desired, the use of aliphatic urethane diacrylates have proven to be less than acceptable, i.e., they are too "soft", showing poor abrasion and chip resistance. In contrast, the hexafunctional oligomers, having excellent scratch and abrasion properties, are too "brittle" and lack acceptable flexibility and long-term weatherability. Current practice of many formulators and end users is to blend materials of differing crosslinking characteristics to create a theoretical "middle ground" of performance properties. The desired outcome is to have a product that achieves the best of all materials combined.
As a result of identifying an existing market need for a flexible, scratch-resistant aliphatic urethane tetraacrylate, Surface Specialties, Inc., has developed Ebecryl