Arkema, a world leader in specialty materials, will introduce the latest developments in more sustainable solutions for lower-energy intensive energy curing systems at RadTech UV+EB, May 20–22, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, at booth 301. During the technical conferences, Arkema experts will present research in UV-LED-EB sustainable materials for coatings, graphic arts, battery and 3D printing applications.
The market needs material solutions that enhance the sustainability and performance of energy curing applications.
These include eliminating substances of concern and reducing VOCs, using lower carbon and more circular feedstocks, lowering energy intensity in application, doing more with less and making it easier to recycle materials - all while maintaining durable product performance.
Attendees can learn about these new sustainable material innovations for SARTOMER® UV/LED/EB-curable specialty resin and N3XTDIMENSION® 3D printing product lines.
REMOVING SUBSTANCES OF CONCERN
- Reactive resins for low extractables and migration: Material advancements to reduce migration potential and further improve safety and performance in packaging inks and coatings.
LOWER CARBON AND MORE CIRCULAR FEEDSTOCKS
- Bio-based (meth)acrylate solutions, based on segregated feedstock, contain up to 88% bio-content. Arkema is introducing two new difunctional oligomers for 3D printing applications. SARBIO® 7405, toughening oligomer, contains 50% bio-content and brings an excellent balance between hardness and flexibility. SARBIO® 7407, highly flexible oligomer, contains 75% bio-content and enables high elastomeric performance.
- Bio-attributed mass balance resins: Arkema announced Its first ISCC+ certification for UV-LED-EB solutions at Villers-Saint-Paul, France. This marks the first step in its ambition to further certify UV-LED-EB manufacturing sites in US and China.
LOWER ENERGY INTENSITY
- UV/EB-cured solutions for coil coatings: Most recent material solutions to enable a technology transition for up 60% energy savings* in application, contributing to decarbonize the built environment.
- Dielectric coatings for battery cells: Solvent-free and lower energy-intensive UV-curable resins and photoinitiators enable excellent dielectric properties, adhesion, flexibility and ease of assembly.
*ECCA - Zero Carbon Coil Coating Line – The Way Forward
END OF LIFE MANAGEMENT - EASING RECYCLABILITY
- De-inking solutions for UV printed inks: New approach to enable recyclability of plastic substrates with or without a removable primer. This innovation supports our customers in their journey to a more sustainable future and enables more versatility in product development for the recycling of plastics.
TECHNICAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Arkema researchers will present technical papers to highlight these sustainable innovations.
A More Sustainable Process for Dispersing Core Shell Impact Modifiers in Hydrophobic Acrylic Monomers
Core-shell impact modifiers are utilized in many thermoset applications, typically as a spray-dried powder that has to be dispersed in a (meth)acrylate monomer resin. This requires specialized equipment that can be costly and can require a lot of energy. Herein, we report a masterbatch containing core-shell particles dispersed in hydrophobic (meth)acrylate monomer made via a more sustainable manufacturing process. Performance properties of these masterbatches will be compared and presented.
Christopher MACNEILL
Senior Research Scientist
The Future of Sustainability in Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing is generally considered to be a more environmentally responsible technology by enabling on-demand, local production, with the potential to reduce material waste and minimize logistic footprint. The key to unlocking its full potential lies in the use of more sustainable raw materials. These innovations are a way that all value chain participants can work together to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the materials we use. Arkema has been a pioneer in design, development and supply of bio-based (meth)acrylates with traceable bio content. We are now leveraging this experience to create high-performance photopolymer 3D printing formulations with high bio content. From safer products answering regulatory realities to materials with lower carbon footprint, the needs and opportunities for more sustainable solutions is expansive. Join our talk to learn what Arkema can offer for photopolymerization 3D printing technologies to help the industry reach both sustainability goals and performance needs.
Clementine CHAMPAGNE
R&D Director, 3D Printing
Enable Recyclability of Packaging with De-inking solutions for UV printed inks
Plastic recycling is a critical action to protect our environment, conserve finite resources, reduce carbon footprint in manufacturing and support the transition to more sustainable production practices. However, removing UV-cured inks, overprint varnishes or primers is challenging, especially for plastic substrates. Arkema will present its new findings and approach to de-inking of UV-cured systems, focusing primarily on new materials to enable de-inking of plastic films.
Endrit SHURDHA
Senior Research Scientist
Energy-Efficient Insulative Coatings for Battery Cell Applications
In response to the global shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) in the next decade, automotive manufacturers worldwide are intensifying their focus on EV production. This surge in EV adoption has created a demand for enhanced performance in battery-related coatings. Among the solutions gaining traction, UV-curable coatings have garnered significant attention from manufacturers due to their rapid curing rate, minimal energy consumption, and ease of application processes. These qualities are pivotal for achieving heightened industrial efficiency and enabling large-scale production. Notably, sprayable UV-cured coatings with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a 100% solid composition are emerging as a viable alternative to traditional PET films. They offer comparable dielectric protection while having thinner profiles and eliminating the risk of delamination. Within this context, Arkema is positioned to showcase its cutting-edge UV-curable acrylate resins and photoinitiators, empowering formulators to address the multifaceted challenges of this application. These products offer outstanding dielectric properties, superior adhesion, flexibility, and seamless assembly capabilities, further reinforcing the EV industry's pursuit of advanced battery coatings.
Saeid BIRIA
Lead Applications Engineer
Inherently Reactive Urethane Acrylate Oligomers for UV-cured Materials with Low Extractables
A platform of "Inherently Reactive" urethane acrylate oligomers has been developed which incorporates photoinitiator functionality into the oligomer backbone. The resulting polymer-bound initiating chemistry allows for low or potentially zero odor and extractables related to the initiating functionality. Unlike traditional polymeric photoinitiators, these inherently reactive oligomers also provide the basic mechanical and film forming properties of a formulated product, similar to traditional acrylated oligomers. The paper will provide the methods used to synthesize the new oligomers and performance comparisons to small molecule photoinitiators.
Donald HERR
R&D Manager
Reactive Acrylic Copolymers for use in Low Extractable Coatings
Acrylic co-polymers can be incorporated into UV resins to enhance a variety of coating properties such as adhesion, flexibility and toughness. In addition to customizing the co-polymer backbone to target specific properties, one can also graft photo-reactive species onto the co-polymer in order to make a self-reacting resin. These systems would provide comparable reactivity and performance to traditional UV/EB formulations, while lowering the risk of extractables in the final product.
Elaine RUIZ
Technical Service Engineer