VanCoatingWTageLine

UV CURABLE

UV CURABLE COATINGS

As a manufacturer of performance UV curable coatings, we have successfully formulated coatings for virtually all types of wood substrates and application methods. When developing UV curable coatings, we employ specific methods that we refer to as “Application Specific Advanced Coatings® technology, or simply ASAC® Technology”.

This approach involves the integration of a number of important factors that influence finish quality namely: People, Process, and Chemistry to arrive at a coating solution that promotes excellence in performance, appearance, and manufacturing efficiencies.

Finishes to fit the performance and aesthetic needs of your product and your process, not the other way around.

 

TYPES OF UV CURABLE WOOD COATINGS

Our exclusive ASAC® Technology has enabled the development of Quality Wood Fillers that apply easily, cure rapidly, and sand well to permit smooth, uniform coverage of applied sealers and topcoats with excellent adhesion…Read More

Van Technologies innovated pigmented UV curable technologies during the 1990’s and today our exclusive ASAC® Technology has introduced GreenLight Coatings® UV curable primers that coat a variety of wood species, sands easily and permits smooth, uniform coverage of applied topcoats with excellent adhesion.… Read More

Designed using our exclusive ASAC® Technology, GreenLight Coatings® UV curable stains have exceptional clarity, superb workability, and are offered in a variety of colors.  Custom color matching is also available….Read More

The GreenLight Coatings® UV curable sealers are designed to apply to wood surfaces uniformly, penetrate and seal the pore structure, and permit smooth, uniform coverage of applied topcoats with excellent adhesion..… Read More

Van Technologies innovated pigmented UV curable technologies during the 1990’s and today our exclusive ASAC® Technology has introduced GreenLight Coatings® UV curable paints in either 100% UV curable or waterborne-UV curable compositions…Read More

Finish quality and beauty is a characteristic of our GreenLight Coatings® UV curable topcoats.  Whether you select one of our self-sealing topcoats, or apply them over our UV curable sealer, GreenLight Coatings® UV curable topcoats will always provide an exceptional finish appearance with excellent adhesion.… Read More

Our exclusive ASAC® Technology has enabled the development of high performance Waterborne UV Curable Self‐Sealing Topcoats that provide exceptional finish appearance with excellent adhesion. These coatings are available in clear or pigmented options and allow for close to the grain finishing for a very natural appearanceRead More

Our exclusive ASAC® Technology has enabled the development of a unique waterborne-UV curable adhesion-promoting tiecoat for use with sap wood species and exotic woods that contain oils.  Although lumber producers do their best to deliver quality wood substrate, there can occur in nature higher or lower content of free sap, pitch, and oils in these types of wood species… Read More

GENERAL TECH TIPS

System Comments

GreenLight Coatings® UV Curable Products are available in 100% (solids) or hybrid waterborne-UV curable compositions. There are significant differences from conventional coatings that will require an adjustment period to “come up to speed.”  Patience and practice will help achieve the full benefit of these high tech wood coatings. The topics below have been determined to be best through actual experience with UV curable coating compositions.

Packaging

GreenLight Coatings® UV Curable Products are available in open or closed top drums (55 gallon; agitator heads are optionally available) and pails (5 gallon).  It is highly recommended that adequate mixing be done to any product containing flatting, or gloss reduction additives, and fillers before application begins.

Shipping and Storage Conditions

GreenLight Coatings® 100% (solids) UV Curable Products are not susceptible to damage from freezing.  The waterborne-UV curable coatings, however, should be protected from freezing.  It is recommended to store products at room temperature or a cool holding area.  Keep all product away from excessively hot conditions, specifically do not store at temperatures above 110º F. Product temperature will affect viscosity, thereby effecting spray, roll coat, flow coat, etc. characteristics.  If the product is below 60º F, let the product come to room temperature before applying. Note:  Some product compositions may contain solvent reducers that will require special storage rooms to comply with local and state fire codes.

Safety

REVIEW MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS) BEFORE ANY USE AND POSSIBLE EXPOSURE! UV curable products contain ingredients that can be irritating to eyes, skin, respiratory, and digestive system. Follow all recommendations for personal and environmental protection.

Topcoats as Sealers

Topcoats may be used as sealers.  The cost will be higher, the sandability slightly more difficult, and there may be less of a “fill” effect, but the final clarity is usually better.  It is recommended to first try the sealer and then evaluate the use of a “topcoat“ sealer if higher clarity is still required. (See our full Waterborne Tech Tips for more information)

Mixing

Like all coating materials that contain suspended solids (flatting or gloss reduction additives and/or fillers), there is a chance that the solids may settle to the bottom of the container. Always check the bottom of the container by scraping the bottom with an inspection stick or spatula. Settled solids will appear to be thick and paste‐like when examined. It is recommended to mix all products thoroughly before use with the use of an appropriate mixer. The preferable method of mixing will use a variable speed mixer having a propeller-shaped agitator. The propeller or agitator should be approximately one third the diameter of the container and positioned off the bottom of the container by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the propeller or agitator. When mixing, operate at an RPM sufficient to create a rapid flow of surface fluid material with the formation of a slight vortex. Avoid any aeration of the product that may cause bubbles in the final coated surface. Consistent, smooth, lump-free fluid should be seen when the product is fully mixed.

Agitation

Once the material is adequately mixed, an agitator is recommended to maintain suspension of solids for the entire duration of application. Typical agitators have much larger “paddle” like blades that slowly and gently mix or stir the coating. Typical agitator blade diameters are between 1/2 and 1/3 the diameter of the fluid reservoir or container serving the application equipment and are positioned close to the bottom. Often there may be more than one agitation blade assembly, one near the bottom and one approximately 1/2 of the distance to the top of the reservoir or container. With two agitator assemblies, it is essential to watch fluid height and agitator speed to avoid introducing air into the fluid.

Filtration

All GreenLight Coatings® products are pre‐filtered for optimum performance, but it is advised to install in‐line filtration between the fluid reservoir or container and the coating applicator system.  Standard filters installed in many finishing lines are made of 100 mesh (150u mesh opening) stainless steel screen material.  It is highly recommended to perform pre‐mixing and continuous agitation when using any product containing flatting or gloss reduction aids and/or fillers.

Application Equipment

Use stainless steel or suitable non‐corrosive material for any wetted parts of the spray line or coating application equipment used. Fluid Transfer Pumps: -100% active UV curable coatings, by their nature, are highly susceptible to damage from fluid shear forces. We do not recommend the use of piston pumps, gear pumps, or any other pump that will apply high shear forces to the fluid. -Waterborne-UV curable coatings are robust and can be pumped using most all industrial pumps available in the market. Spray tips, tip pressure, and pot pressure will require adjustment to provide optimum performance and may not be the same as that used with other coatings used in the past. For example, the viscosity of available UV coating systems will vary and will, therefore, require different adjustment settings.

Grain Raise

For 100% UV curable coatings, the grain raise observed is very similar to that experienced with conventional coatings and does not typically present any problems.  Waterborne-UV curable coatings, however, will exhibit grain raise consistent with non-UV curable waterborne coatings.  The GreenLight Coatings® UV primers, sealers, and sealer topcoats will “lock in place” any raised fibers so that during the sanding process, a highly smooth, uniform surface is ready for topcoat application.  After topcoat application, no secondary grain raise is seen and a high-quality finish results. Wood moisture content will influence the degree of grain raise seen and, therefore, the potential effort necessary to achieve the quality desired.  Maintain a constant storage environment for wood stock to help eliminate any finish quality variations.

Waste disposal

Review the material safety data sheet (SDS) and always check with your local sanitary treatment facility and/or waste disposal district!  They will evaluate materials for you in their effort to help you properly dispose of waste.  Do not discharge any waste to a septic system or stormwater drain regardless of how harmless you believe it is!  The EPA considers septic disposal as an underground injection and closely regulates discharges.  Stormwater drainage is also closely regulated.  In the dry form, after UV curing, the waste from GreenLight Coatings® UV curable products is not regulated and may be disposed of as normal solid waste. As a liquid it is quite common to find that GreenLight Coatings® UV curable product waste material will require hazardous waste handling procedures ‐ ALWAYS CHECK FIRST!

 

General Application Tips

Review the material safety data sheet (SDS) and always check with your local sanitary treatment facility and/or waste disposal district!  They will evaluate materials for you in their effort to help you properly dispose of waste.  Do not discharge any waste to a septic system or stormwater drain regardless of how harmless you believe it is!  The EPA considers septic disposal as an underground injection and closely regulates discharges.  Stormwater drainage is also closely regulated.  In the dry form, after UV curing, the waste from GreenLight Coatings® UV curable products is not regulated and may be disposed of as normal solid waste. As a liquid it is quite common to find that GreenLight Coatings® UV curable product waste material will require hazardous waste handling procedures ‐ ALWAYS CHECK FIRST!

 

Sanding

This is a very critical step in finishing with any UV coating system.  UV curable coating compositions exhibit high chemical resistance, even to the same un‐cured UV coating composition.  Sanding performs two functions with UV coating systems.  First, sanding will remove unwanted rough regions for a smooth topcoat application.  Second, sanding will roughen the surface on a micro-scale and increase the surface area for the best topcoat adhesion.  Take note that, the higher the grit used in pre‐sanding, the better the smoothness of the final finish.  It is cautioned, however, that it is possible to sand with too high of a grit media and the surface may not possess enough micro‐texture for adhesion promotion.  Grit count higher than 300 should be avoided. In general, it is advised to pre‐sand up to a minimum of 150 grit and it is preferred to reach 220 grit.  Apply stain and sealer, and re‐sand to 220 grit when completely cured through the action of UV light.  It is recommended to always sand with the wood grain and, if using hand power sanders, to use a random orbit sander. The application of one topcoat, over a sanded prime coat or seal coat layer, will be remarkably smooth and for many instances, it will be sufficient as the final finish.  A second application of topcoat, after light fine sanding, will further improve final finish quality. Automatic flat-panel sanders perform remarkably well and it is highly recommended to use a segmented pressure belt sanding process.  It is essential to apply even pressure over the entire surface area, leaving no regions untouched.  Untouched areas may exhibit fish‐eyes, crawling, and/or repel spots.  Automatic sanders may also be too aggressive when not set up properly, sanding entirely through the applied seal coat.  This will result in spots or craters where the topcoat absorbs into, and re‐seals exposed wood. Silicon carbide sanding media is highly recommended due to the high degree of hardness of cured UV curable coatings.  This type of sanding media on paper will perform much more efficiently and will also last longer, saving cost on replacement belts and paper. For lineal mouldings and profile sanding, it is recommended to employ the use of two initial brush sanding rolls that are constructed of 180 grit abrasive nylon bristles.  These brush rolls should rotate with and then against the direction of the part.  These should be followed by two additional Flex‐Trim type 150 grit sanding brushes, the first of which having ⅛” sanding strips and the second having ¼” sanding strips.  Again, the brush head rotations are with and then against the direction of the part.