Clean, Coat, Cure: how UV LED coating is applied

After preparing the surface, it’s time for the second step in the UV LED coating process: Coat. Selmers experts Nick Vet and Koen van Klooster explain how different application methods work and what makes UV coating particularly efficient.

Step 2: Coat

There are different ways to apply UV coating, depending on the shape and dimensions of the product. Nick distinguishes between two main methods: vacuum coating and spray coating.

Vacuum coating is particularly suited to continuous products such as tubes and profiles. Inside the coating chamber, a pressure difference helps apply the coating to the surface. Because the vacuum needs to be maintained, this method works with continuous products before they are cut to their final length.

Spray coating works differently. Nozzles, the spray heads used to apply the coating, are positioned around the product and adjusted to its dimensions. As the product enters the coating cabin, the nozzles start applying the coating and stop again according to the programmed settings.

One characteristic of UV coating is particularly useful at this stage: the coating remains liquid until it is exposed to UV light. Coating that is not applied to the product can therefore be collected and reused relatively easily.

Throughout the process, the coating also needs to be kept at the right temperature. The exact temperature depends on the coating and its supplier, but conditioning helps ensure that the material maintains the properties needed for application.

Once the coating has been applied, it’s time for the final step: Cure. We’ll explore how UV LED light cures the coating in the next part of our Clean, Coat, Cure series.

Missed the first step? Read how proper surface preparation lays the foundation for UV LED coating in: UV LED coating step 1: clean

Did you know?

Vacuum coating requires a continuous tube or profile to maintain the vacuum effect?