Accelerated electrons often steal the spotlight when it comes to electron beam (they even are listed as the titular character!), but behind the curtain (or better yet, the titanium foil) and responsible for the whole production is vacuum. Good vacuum makes EB possible; the better the vacuum, the better the operation of the beam, so understanding why vacuum is needed, how it … [Read more...] about Vacuum 101 for Electron Beam Users
Enews August 2025
Beyond Dual Cure: Next-Generation Universal Black UV Monocoat
By WC Peter Tsang and Christopher A. Baumgart, Red Spot Paint and Varnish Company, Inc. Dual-cure coatings once were perceived to deliver the best combined performance from both thermal and UV-cured paints. However, such technology comes with a multitude of application challenges typically addressed with unsustainable reworking. Some dual-cure paints also are extremely … [Read more...] about Beyond Dual Cure: Next-Generation Universal Black UV Monocoat
Developing Hydrophobic UV-Curable Clearcoats for Plastic Substrates Using Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Technology, Part 2
By Tahereh Hayeri (Neda), Coating Research Institute, Eastern Michigan University Editor’s Note: Coatings for plastic substrates are subject to challenges that can result in reduced gloss appearance and weak adhesion, among other issues. Researchers at Eastern Michigan University developed UV-curable Organic-Inorganic Hybrid (OIH) coatings that are said to offer superior … [Read more...] about Developing Hydrophobic UV-Curable Clearcoats for Plastic Substrates Using Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Technology, Part 2