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The mechanism for creating matt effects in traditional coatings is well understood in that it relies on incorporating a particulate matting agent in the coating and adequate film shrinkage resulting from evaporation of volatile components enables the particulate to create a microrough surface. Specially designed matting agents are avà i/able, exemplified by the micronised porous synthetic silicas. Creating a matt effect in a 100% solids UV coating, provides the formulator with considerable difficulty, due to inadequate film shrinkage. Inspite of this, good matting is still achievable, although success depends on the formulation components and mode of curing, as well as the matting agent. Furthermore, no matting agents are currently available designed to meet all the needs of the UV formulator. This paper describes the pmperties of a porous silica matting agent required to achieve the optimum matting effect in UV coatings, the limitations and potential problems to be expected of such a "best fit" product and potential solutions to some of these problems.
