Fine-Tuning Viscoelasticity of EB-Cured Adhesives to Optimize Performance
There is currently a great deal of commercial interest in the use of EB curing for packaging and industrial applications. For adhesive applications, the technology offers the potential benefits of immediate cure, reduced work-in-progress, reduced energy consumption, reduced floor space, no solvent use and no isocyanates1,2. Additionally, EB-curable coatings have been used commercially as topcoats for 20 years, and interest continues to grow. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, EB-curable coatings also reportedly yield increased gloss, greater process robustness and the potential for faster line speeds vs. other coatings technologies.
EB-curable laminating adhesives and coatings are now available commercially to function on a variety of substrate combinations. The development of EB-curable adhesives to satisfy the demanding conditions of many well-entrenched applications is not a trivial exercise however. Adhesion scientists must address many hurdles to realize the potential benefits of the technology.