Improved Dispersion of Pigments with the aid of Hyperdispersants in UV Systems

The increased pressure to reduce VOC levels in surface coatings and the constant improvements required in coating properties continues to drive the growth of UV technology. The dispersion and stabilisation of pigments in such systems can be problematical. Often the oligomer and monomers employed in the formulation do not provide satisfactory pigment wetting and stabilisation, resulting in issues such as low colour strength, poor transparency, inadequate flow and unstable rheology. Many coating manufacturers use polymeric dispersants to address the technical issues directly associated with unsatisfactory pigment dispersion. The advancement of hyperdispersant technology has led to the availability of specialised polymeric dispersants designed to meet the growing needs of the radiation cured applications. This paper will explain the role hyperdispersants have in dispersing problem pigments and advantages they can give to the UV formulator.