Product launch and package deal for radiation curing
The latest additions to our expanding portfolio for enhancing radiation curing are polyols for the preparation of acrylic esters reactive diluents. Polyol R4630 is distinguished by its purity and environmentally safe profile, and Polyol R2395 is most valued for the significant performance benefits it offers. Our innovative alkoxylates, launched in conjunction with the 4th Paint Show in Tokyo, April 2006, are a result of an ongoing pursuit to serve the market with safe and environmentally sound products with improved performance.
David James, Perstorp Market Development Manager for Western Europe and Project Manager for the development of these products, explains that they are a response to market needs. "Our new products capitalize on the expansion of radiation curing technology into new applications such as UV inkjet printing, and elevate the safety of products to meet new legislation and industry demands in existing applications," says James.
Radiation curing technology is an important and expanding market, not least in Japan, where these products are particularly able to serve the needs of the young and booming demand for UV flexographic ink, inkjet printing and the general increase of UV cured coatings in automotive interiors. Self adhesive printed labels for consumer packaging such as shampoo and cosmetics, external food packaging, shrink sleeves for bottles, interior car coatings and posters and advertisements outdoors and on public transit are just some of the products that will benefit from enhanced quality.
The acrylate of our Polyol R2395 boasts the lowest surface tension of any difunctional acrylate and the best wetting characteristics for plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. In formulations its characteristics promote a better flow, leveling and adhesion of the coating and give coatings the good flexibility necessary for plastic substrates such as shrinkable sleeves. It also has a positive impact on pigment dispersion and improves the rheology of printing inks, with a lower shortness index than hexane diol diacrylate monomers. Better ink flow, transfer and leveling improve print quality and, of course, it is non-irritating to the skin and therefore safe and easy to handle.
The superior safety of the acrylate of Polyol R4630 comes from the polyol being developed with higher purity. It is a tetrafunctional alkoxylated polyol with exceptionally low content of free glycols and starting monomers and this ensures preparation of UV-curable acrylates with low skin irritation index, making it safer to handle and safer for the environment. Furthermore, it results in less extractable in the cured coatings.
"This product will be essential in meeting the increased demand for safer products in the industrial coatings segment." James notes and refers to companies like furniture manufacturers that have set limits of extractable, unreacted chemicals in the coatings, and exclude the use of some traditional acrylate monomers due to their toxicity. James points out that this product addresses these issues and is performing very well in application, citing the example of increased scratch resistance in wood and furniture coatings.