Formulate on the Cutting Edge.

Adhesion is a key attribute of any UV system either as an intrinsic property for coatings and inks as they are applied to a variety of substrates, or as a performance property in adhesives used for bonding parts.

As the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions is becoming a driving force, bio-based materials are being developed and offered as viable alternatives to current petroleum-based options.

UV-cured systems applied to flexible surfaces need to be able to accompany the deformation of the substrate through its intended use without any compromise in key properties like adhesion.

Hardness is measured as the resistance to deformation. It can be dialed into UV systems through the selection of materials with backbones varying in intrinsic hardness and with a range of functionality allowing control of crosslink density.

Newly developed materials, including oligomers, allow systems such as UV inkjet inks or 3D printing resins with suitable low viscosities and mechanical properties more typical of higher viscosity systems.

Refractive index is a value of importance for certain UV raw materials used in end applications like lenses or digital screens where optical properties must be carefully calibrated and compatibility between components is essential.

Scratch and Abrasion Resistance (SARC) is an attribute that is frequently requested by end users of products meant to stand up to wear and tear of everyday use. SARC systems actively minimize scratches and other surface damage from coated objects.

Minimizing the shrinkage that occurs in UV systems as they cure and crosslink is essential to maintaining key properties such as adhesion in coatings, inks or adhesives. Controlling this shrinkage is also critical in 3D printed systems in order to maintain dimensional accuracy and to prevent brittleness.

Toughness is an essential quality in applications where a balance of strength and plasticity is required. The ability to absorb impact energy without permanent deformation or failure is a critical attribute of coatings, inks and adhesives in a variety of end uses.

3D printing leads to particular challenges for example in terms of cure speed versus brittleness or the development of truly isotropic properties. Exploration of novel materials like cyclizing monomers or hybrid systems combining free radical and cationic technologies paves the way to cutting edge formulations.