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Akzo Nobel Car Refinishes has developed a novel UV-A curing, high solids clear coating, which can be used for refinishing spots, panels and even total resprays. This photo activated coating is based on an innovative, patented, two component curing technology and comprises various specially developed constituents at a VOC-level of 350 g/l at application viscosity. Chemical drying of the clearcoat is achieved by a unique combination of a thiol functional resin system
with polyisocyanates and a photolatent base catalyst that has been especially developed for this
application. Irradiation of the photo catalyst by low intensity UV-A irradiation results in the generation of an active catalyst. A cure time of only 5 minutes is achieved by using lamps emitting such UV-A light. The resulting clearcoat exhibits amongst others a high gloss level and excellent scratch resistance properties. The tacky surface layer normally seen with radical curing UV systems, due to oxygen inhibition, is nonexisting with this system. Shadow areas, which are not readily accessible to UV-light, will have an acceptable curing speed at ambient temperature due to the specific chemistry used. This UV-A curing clearcoat system also eliminates volume shrinkage of polymers, thus resulting in an excellent appearance. Practical mixing of the paint in a bodyshop environment, the spray equipment to be used and the application process of the UV-A curable clearcoat are very similar to currently used clearcoat systems. Special UV-A light equipment will be available for curing under all repair conditions, from small repairs to total resprays. Bodyshop profitability will increase using this new generation of UV coatings. Curing time is reduced from an average of 30 minutes at 60 °C to only 5 minutes curing with UV-A light at room temperature. This leads to significant reduction in process time and energy costs. Due to the practical potlife of 8 hours, a minimal amount of waste is created. Akzo Nobel is convinced that bodyshops will benefit from using this revolutionary UV-A technology.
The new UV-A curable clear coat formulation is the first proof for the technical feasibility of an industrial curing process using a novel photobase catalyst and a suitable resin system, allowing the extension of radiation curing into new crosslinking chemistry.
