AkzoNobel Specialty Finishes launches soft touch technology, which allows lighter shades

AkzoNobel has developed coatings technology, which enables soft, tactile finishes to be applied to consumer electronics using lighter shades such as white and silver.
Known as DuraSilk UV, the soft-feel coating solves a long-standing stain resistance issue associated with soft feel coatings, which has so far restricted the use of such tactile finishes to only darker colours. The new technology also cures at lower temperatures, resulting in less energy use.

"Traditional soft coatings have a rough surface that picks up stains such as coffee, so they can only be used on darker coloured basecoats,” explained Ted Rhee, Sales Manager at AkzoNobel’s Specialty Finishes business.

"Our UV-cured coatings technology is more resistant to stains, which means that soft feel effects can now be used over lighter-coloured basecoats. The UV curing aspect also allows them to cure at lower temperatures, so they can now be used with less expensive plastics.”