VOC directive heralds change for UV curable wood coatings

22,000 tonnes of UV curable coatings were sold into the furniture and construction industries in 2001 and the total market was valued at some $179million.

Most UV curable wood coating formulations used in Europe contain some form of volatile component, with very few being fully solvent free. These solvent levels can range from small levels up to 70% in some polyester-based formulations.

The high solvent content coatings are cheaper per kg and per coated area, and are more common in Southern Europe - mainly Spain & Italy (two of the largest European wood coating countries).

But a new study from Frost & Sullivan shows that product reformulation required to meet the EU Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) directive will have a dramatic effect on the pricing structure of such coatings and hence the total value of the market. The (VOC) directive will force end-users to change to more expensive, lower solvent alternatives.

The only truly solvent-free alternatives are powder coatings. The market is currently small, but the potential for these materials is enormous since they offer a combination of processing and properties not available from any other alternative.

Until recently, however, their use has been limited to metal substrates such as those in office furniture. But with the introduction of infra-red lamps, which induce less heating of the substrate, they will be used on MDF and plastic substrates too.