Keeping up Appearances

Rea emphasizes the role delivery systems can play in less-than-perfect UV/EB applications. Over-active pumping systems, chambered aniloxes, and high-speed silk screen coaters sometimes generate excessive quantities of air bubbles or "foam." Rea continues, "This can generate reductions in a cured film's smoothness and gloss due to pinholes, voids, and craters, or the unsightly speckling or 'silvering effect' seen in some laminations." While pump adjustments or line speed reductions often alleviate these blemishes, formulation changes may be required in certain instances.