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EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO THE USE OF RADIATION-CURED COATINGS IN SCREEN PRINTING
Citation:
Harris, C. AND J. Winkler. EVALUATION OF BARRIERS TO THE USE OF RADIATION-CURED COATINGS IN SCREEN PRINTING. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-95/060 (NTIS 95-208864), 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report gives results of an evaluation of barriers to the use of radiation-cured coatings in screen printing. In support of the Source Reduction Review Project (SRRP), maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards development, and the Pollution Prevention Act, EPA is investigating the current industrial use and barriers to the extended use of water-based and radiation-cured coatings in SRRP and MACT categories. The report gives results of a study to investigate and identify technical, educational, and economic barriers to the use and implementation of radiation-cured coatings in the non-textile screen printing industry. Use of ultraviolet (UV)-curable inks offers substantial economic and process benefits, in addition to environmental benefits. Among the benefits are: (1) reduction in required floor space; (2) increased throughput; (3) reduction in health and safety hazards for workers exposed to screen printing inks; and (4) reduced cost per unit area printed. Technical barriers include ink and substrate limitations, and health and safety issues. Economic barriers provide the greatest challenge to implementing UV-curable inks. The costs of purchasing UV-curing units, coupled with downtime required to effect the changeover, are significant disincentives for the small printing shops prevalent in the industry. The principal educational barrier is technology transfer (from research to shop).