UV-Curable Powder Coatings on Wood Benefits and Performance
During the past few years, UV powders have evolved from a laboratory curiosity to a new industrial coating technology. Today, the new coating method is used industrially for the finishing of pre-assembled metal objects containing heat-sensitive parts,1 three-dimensional MDF boards for furniture applications2 and PVC flooring.
Both technological and economic benefits explain the growing interest in the technology. Ease of handling of powder coating formulations, spray application of a powder to easily coat complex shapes, fast heating and curing process (limited space requirements) are some of the typical technological advantages.3 Material usage of 95%, high productivity, low energy use, reduced labor and maintenance costs contribute to the economic attractiveness of UV powder coating technology. Finally, UV powders can be considered as an ideal technology from the viewpoint of environmental friendliness. No volatiles are present in a powder formulation, or are generated during the coating process, meaning that it is an excellent answer to increasingly stringent environmental legislation.