Bayer MaterialScience UV-cure coatings technology from A – Z

Ultraviolet-cure (UV-cure) coating technology continues to gain traction in the coatings industry due to its many competitive advantages – low energy costs, no pot life issues, reduced environmental impact and a fast cure time, among others. Formulators are looking to capitalise on this technology and optimise its performance.

To give formulators a better understanding of UV-cure coating technology, Michael Dvorchak, manager – intellectual property & new media, Coatings Adhesives & Specialties, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, will lead a two-part session, ‘Tutorial 3: Radiation Curing’, from 8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., Monday, May 7, during a pre-conference tutorial session at the American Coatings Show (ACS).

Generally, the tutorial will provide a concise overview on the fundamentals of radiation-curing coatings, their benefits and limitations, as well as the basic chemistry involved and appropriate applications.

During ‘Part I: Basic UV-Cure Coatings Technology, attendees will learn about the fundamental principles of free-radical chemistry as it centres around the use of 100% solids UV-cure aromatic/aliphatic polyurethane, epoxy, polyester, and polyether oligomers. Dvorchak will also discuss their use with monomeric acrylates in combination with specific photoinitiators. In addition, he will address the issues of surface inhibition on free-radical chemistries, and techniques that limit this problem. Other topics he will highlight include UV light sources and curing highly pigmented UV-cure coatings.

‘Part II: Advanced UV-Cure Coatings Technology’ will focus on more advanced UV-cure coatings systems. For example, Dvorchak will discuss the development and use of UV-curable polyurethane dispersions, UV-A transportation coatings, UV direct-to-metal applications, UV-cure plastics coatings and UV site-applied flooring. He will also review the development of a UV-A cure aerospace coating, as well as the formulation of new, more environmentally friendly UV coatings and their application in new and emerging markets.

Attendees are invited to stop by Bayer’s booth, #301, during the show to learn more about Bayer’s coatings technologies.