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Introduction
Four years ago, a typical paper introduction started with the statement
that water based radiation curable systems were under discussion for about
ten years, but without real significant market acceptance!! Now, fourteen
years after the start of the discussion, we are able to state that these
systems have started to gain commercial significance in a number of end use
markets such as clear lacquers for wood, plastics and leatheroverprint
varnishes and printing inks.
It is interesting to note that the expanding water based radiation curing
technology either advances into markets where the use of conventional 100
percent solids radiation curable systems are impractical, uneconomical or
for health and safety reasons undesirable, or into conventional water based
lacquer markets where current crosslinking technologies are not
sufficiently effective or again for health and safety reasons restricted.
In fact this means a recognition of a number of the unique advantages that
water based radiation curingtechnology offers:
— Unique viscosity reduction since water is the diluent
— Potential for non—hazardous spray—applications
— Improved toxicology since zero or reduced quantities of
acrylate monomers and oligomers
— Potential of tack free coatings prior to UV/EB cure
— Easy equipment clean-up
— Reduced flammibility
— Zero VOC Potential
— Economical low film thickness potential
— New formulation options (low shrinkage, better matting)
On the other hand it does not seem that the limitation of the water
flash—off step has been a major hinder in the advancement of the
technology.This is specifically true in applications onto absorbent
substrates, such as paper.
The marriage between waterborne and radiation curing technologies so far is
happy and will continue to produce a range of interesting resin types.
