How to Solve Foaming Issues in UV Curing? Chemi Tech's Professional Solutions Enhance Coating Quality

In the production and application of UV-curable coatings, bubble formation is a frequent challenge for many professionals. These micro bubbles not only mar the coating's appearance, causing unsightly pinholes, fish eyes, or orange peel, but can also compromise the coating's density, adhesion, and protective properties, leading to reduced product yield and increased costs.

A common market pain point is that many defoamers struggle under the specific conditions of high-speed mixing or rapid film formation during UV curing. Issues include poor compatibility leading to craters, insufficient defoaming power, or even foam stabilization, failing to provide long-lasting effectiveness within the system. This is particularly demanding in high-viscosity, highly filled, or transparent formulations.

To address these core challenges, the Chemi Tech R&D team has developed a series of specialized UV curing defoamer solutions. Our approach goes beyond simply adding an additive; it is based on a deep understanding of the interactions between resins, monomers, and photoinitiators, offering systematic resolution steps.

The first step is accurate diagnosis. By analyzing the customer's formulation system, application process (such as roll coating, spraying, or curtain coating), and curing conditions, we identify the root cause of bubble formation—whether from mechanical entrapment, reaction by-products, or substrate wetting issues.

The second step is customized selection. We offer defoamer products with various mechanisms, including bubble-breaking and foam-inhibiting types. They feature extremely low surface tension, enabling rapid penetration and rupture of bubble walls, while maintaining good compatibility with UV systems to avoid surface defects.

The third step is process optimization guidance. We advise customers on the optimal production stage (e.g., pre-grinding or let-down phase) for defoamer addition, along with recommended dosage and dispersion methods to ensure uniform distribution and maximum effectiveness.

We assisted an electronic device coating company in East China in resolving bubble issues in their UV protective lacquer. Their product initially exhibited dense pinholes after curing. By implementing our tailored defoamer solution, adjusting the dosage to 0.3%-0.8%, and optimizing the mixing process, the coating surface achieved a smooth and flawless finish. The product yield rate saw significant improvement, and the customer expressed high satisfaction with the outcome.

Choosing Chemi Tech means you not only receive an efficient defoamer product but also gain access to our professional formulation technical support and ongoing service. Let us work together to eliminate bubble risks at the source and endow your UV coatings with superior appearance and performance.