Light in weight: UV curing paint systems increase the versatility of plastics in weight saving applications

In the transportation sector there are significant advantages in reducing the overall weight of vehicles. These include the combination of improved fuel economy, increased range and greater load carrying capacity. A major strategy in achieving weight reduction has been the substitution of metals with plastics and polymer based composites. This trend is encouraged by regulation that requires progress in conservation of both energy and materials. Where use of plastics necessitates painting, for the purposes of decoration, performance, function or any combination of these, it is necessary to formulate within the constraints of the substrate materials and any regulatory framework governing their processing. The hybrid car is used as an example of compliance with commercial and regulatory objectives in this context. The use of radiation curing techniques, especially LED UV (light emitting diode ultraviolet), for painting on plastics is discussed as a means of minimising process energy and environmental pollutants. The utilisation of electrically conductive plastic substrates to further enhance and facilitate paint application by electrostatic and electrophoretic methods is investigated.