At the European Coatings Show 2019 from March 19-21 in Nuremberg, Germany, Covestro has been presenting Bayhydrol eco UV 2877, a fast-drying dispersion offering great application flexibility in UV curing, one- and two-component coating systems.
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It can be used in both pigmented and clearcoat formulations, and is equally suitable for topcoats and primers. Moreover, around 35 per cent of the product is based on biomass.
Coating formulations based on Bayhydrol eco UV 2877 show a multi-curing mechanism: the coatings achieve tack-free films with good mechanical properties and stain resistance even before UV curing or at low UV energy dosage. Curing with UV radiation gives final coatings with even higher chemical resistance and hardness.
Furniture manufacturers gain design freedom, since three-dimensional parts with shaded areas can be coated to a high level of quality. One-component UV coatings are easy to handle, there is no pot life to consider and there is less waste than with standard systems.
The waterborne coatings require no reactive thinner and emit lower amounts of VOCs than standard systems, allowing for more favourable labelling. The lower dependence on UV quality means that either processors can reduce the UV dosage or coatings formulators can reduce the amount of photoinitiator, which is a real cost advantage.
Bayhydrol eco UV 2877 is partially based on renewable resources, contributing to circular economy by helping to close the carbon loop. Additionally, a Life Cycle Assessment has shown a significant improvement in the carbon footprint compared to standard waterborne UV curable dispersions.
