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EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO THE USE OF RADIATION CURED COATINGS IN WIDE-WEB FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING
Citation:
Vitas, J., C. Harris, AND W. Blake. EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO THE USE OF RADIATION CURED COATINGS IN WIDE-WEB FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 1997.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report gives results of a study to investigate and identify the technical, economic, and educational barriers to the use and implementation of radiation-curable coatings (primarily ultraviolet (UV) curable inks) in the wide-web flexographic printing industry. (NOTE: In support of the Source Reduction Review Project (SRRP), maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards development, and the Pollution Prevention Act, EPA's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division (APPCD) is investigating the current industrial use and barriers to the extended use of radiation-cured coatings in SRRP and MACT categories.) Some important barriers identified are: the damage to thin film substrates and expansion of press components caused by heat generated by the UV lamps, foaming caused by the higher-viscosity UV-curable flexographic inks, the industry perception that UV systems are not cost effective, and the misperception that a substrate with UV-cured ink is less chemically resistant. The report also lists potential research opportunities identified at a focus group meeting on June 29, 1995.