Mar 20 2009
The demand for waterborne UV coatings in the wood and furniture protection market has been steadily increasing during the last few years. This is mainly due to the environmental benefits offered by these products. Many major office furniture manufacturers now advertise their products as coated with low-emission, environmentally friendly systems and this trend is growing as consumer consciousness grows.
Major furniture companies increasingly want products that dispense entirely with solvent-borne coatings. Such specifications can be met cost-effectively with coatings that cure within seconds under UV light. Bayer MaterialScience has now added two new products to its successful range of water-thinnable, radiation-curing coating materials.
"We have developed Bayhydrol® UV XP 2690 specifically for exterior wood applications," says Dr. Jan Weikard from Bayer MaterialScience. Coatings based on this polyurethane dispersion are noted above all for their outstanding weather resistance, a claim that has been confirmed in a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI), which shows that the wood surface remains absolutely free of damage during weather exposure and meets the requirements of DIN EN 927-3. The test results also show that when used outdoors, the timber can withstand the elements for eight years, before requiring recoating. A further advantage is that Bayhydrol® UV XP 2690 is suitable for both clear coats and pigmented top coats.
The second addition to the Bayer MaterialScience range is Bayhydrol® UV XP 2687, which has been developed specifically for use as a primer. The product is recognized for its outstanding grain accentuation and adhesion to all wood types, even those containing oil. The polyurethane emulsion has a high solids content, which allows higher film thicknesses to be achieved in a single application. Due to its excellent resistance properties and high degree of hardness, it is also suitable for clear coats and can be formulated for both spray and roller application.