Review by Benjamin R. Nelson and Bruce E. Kirkpatrick, University of Colorado Boulder, Chemical and Biological Engineering Editor’s Note: This new section is designed to feature concise reflections from graduate students on recent academic reports regarding the development of technologies in the UV/EB curing space. Each commentary highlights key findings on a specific … [Read more...] about Emerging Applications of 1,2-dithiolanes in Diverse (Photo)polymerizations
Plastics
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
Developing Hydrophobic UV-Curable Clearcoats for Plastic Substrates Using Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Technology, Part 1
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 1
Enabling Energy-Curable Adhesion Through Polymer Design
By Namgoo Kang, Ph.D.; Ken Myers; Mark Adams; Andrew Sandt and William C. Miles, Ph.D., Penn Color, Inc. The adhesion of energy-curable coatings is a subject of great interest, particularly for substrates that are low energy (i.e. plastics) or in the joining of substrates with different surface energies.1 Advantages of energy-curable coatings are that they often are very … [Read more...] about Enabling Energy-Curable Adhesion Through Polymer Design
Sustainability and the Plastics Industry
By Liz Stevens and Dianna Brodine, UV+EB Technology In early February, Michael Regan, President Biden’s nominee for EPA administrator, spoke directly to plastics pollution during his Senate confirmation hearing. In a comment acknowledging the need to address single-use plastics, he said plastics are a concern, “especially the impacts that we’ve seen with our marine life and … [Read more...] about Sustainability and the Plastics Industry