Keeping up Appearances

For both UV/EB coatings and adhesives, flow and leveling traits are significant factors in the overall finished product's appearance. As Wikoff Color Corp.'s Paul Robinson, UV/EB section manager, explains, the interval between application and cure determines how well the coating spreads on the printed surface. "A longer distance before cure allows flow and leveling to hide imperfections from film splitting," he points out. Alternatively, a lower viscosity improves flow with a shorter distance before cure.