| dc.description | For the last 30 years, UV/EB radiation has been largely used to cure varnishes, inks,
adhesives and coatings in order to improve productivity, increase product performance and
eliminate hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [1-2]. Practically, the use of EB
curing is more restricted than UV probably because of an apparently higher complexity and
investment cost [3]. The desired final material is a cured and cross-linked polymer [4], but, in
contrast, thermosetting networks endow excellent thermal and chemical stability, even at
environmental conditions after the product is discharged [5]. An alternative can be
incorporating compounds (i.e. metal transition salts) that can induce, under controlled
conditions, photo-generated holes and electrons that can combine with the surface adsorbed
species (e.g., water and oxygen) to form highly reactive radical species such as hydroxyl
radicals and superoxide anion [6]. So, the aim of this work is to analyze the effects of the
presence of two metallic stearates in EB-cured pigmented coatings formulations by means of
changes on gloss, hardness and color as a function of radiation doses in the studied range. | |
