UV/EB Curing for Decorative Foil and Laminates, 2002 Decorative and Industrial Laminates Symposium

Traditionally, decorative foils and laminates have been made by a process that requires both high temperature and pressure. The laminate or decorative foil is a product formed by the saturation (impregnation) or coating of a paper or other fiber based material with a thermally active resin under conditions of pressure and temperature. In the past, the big advantage of this technology has been performance features. Today, most of those performance features can be achieved with UV/EB curable materials, with greatly reduced environmental concerns. UV/EB technology offers curing in seconds and properties that can be tailored for a combination of scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, flexibility, glossy or matte finishes, and the ability to use temperature sensitive substrates. In addition, this coating can be applied evenly and cured uniformly, producing a consistent performance throughout the laminate.

This paper will examine the performance properties that can be achieved through the use of UV/EB technology in the production of decorative foils. The properties to be examined will be differences in dosage (mJ/cm2), time of exposure to UV light (seconds), hardness, flexibility, abrasion resistance, scratch resistance, and finishes (gloss or matte).