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.