Radiation-cured coatings offer great advantages; numerous applications in the wood, paper, overprint varnish, optics, electronics, plastics and inks markets realize benefits from the reduced energy consumption, environmental impact, waste generation, smaller footprint, and faster cure times offered by this technology. Metal substrates, however, account for only a small fraction of the radiation-cured coatings market. In fact, in Europe only 1% of the UV/EB resin market is consumed in metal coating applications, despite the potential to realize the advantages.
There are real benefits to be gained, as several forward-thinking manufacturers have clearly demonstrated with the adoption of radiation-cured coatings for metal substrates. A few of these examples are highlighted below, including household appliances, truck axles, beverage cans and steel pipes for oil drilling.