ABSTRACT
Curing coatings by means of radiation represents one of the new techniques that is replacing the use of conventional or low solids, solvent-borne coatings. Radiation-cured coatings offer a manufacturer several important features. These include the following:
• High solids — usually 100% solids • Low capital investment (with certain specific exceptions) • Low energy curing costs — low power requirements and elimination of solvent costs • Rapid cure speeds • Ability to cure a variety of substrates, including heat-sensitive substrates such as plastics and parts
for the electronics industry • Increased productivity • Shorter curing lines and decreased floor space requirements for operating line and for liquid
coating storage • A variety of different chemistries from which to select, and thus broad formulating latitude from
the wide variety of formulation ingredients available
The main sources of actinic energy for curing coatings by radiation are electron beam and ultraviolet light.* It 1984, Pincus
indicated that there were four suppliers of electron beam (EB) equipment and more than 40 suppliers of ultraviolet light (UV) equipment. The ninth edition (1987) of the
Radiation Curing Buyer’s Guide
lists the same number of EB suppliers and about 50 suppliers of UV equipment. In the United States, there were about 100 EB units and about 25,000 UV light units operational in 1983-1984.
