Challenges for UV curing

UV curing inks and coatings still face certain challenges before they can gain major positions in the flexible packaging market from the currently dominating solventborne and - to a lesser extent - waterborne formulations. Can food compliance requirements be met? Can the cost/performance gap versus solvent-borne systems be reduced? Can the stringent technical demands (adhesion, lamination ability, retorting and sealing resistance, etc.) of the various packaging applications be fulfilled? These are the parameters that will determine the ability of UV curing inks and coatings to significantly extend their fields of application in flexible packaging. Technology developments that support the formulation and use of a new generation of UV-curable inks and coatings are described below.