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What substrates are UV 3C coatings suitable for?

Release time:

2026-06-18 23:18

What substrates are UV 3C coatings suitable for?

The performance of UV‑3C coatings depends not only on formulation design and application processes but is also closely linked to the choice of substrate. Substrates differ in surface energy, polarity, heat resistance, and forming processes, each of which directly influences the coating’s wettability, adhesion, and curing behavior. In 3C electronics manufacturing, housings and structural components are made from a variety of materials; understanding how each substrate interacts with UV‑3C coatings is essential for ensuring coating quality.

I. Plastic Substrates

Plastics are a commonly used substrate material in 3C electronic products and one of the most frequently coated substrates with UV‑curable 3C coatings. Plastic housings for consumer electronics come in a wide variety, and different types of plastic exhibit varying degrees of adhesion to UV coatings.

ABS is one of the most widely used substrates in vacuum plating and UV coating, exhibiting excellent adhesion to UV coatings and superior processability. ABS material is compatible with most UV coating processes and is extensively employed in products such as mobile phone housings and appliance panels.

Polycarbonate (PC) boasts excellent heat resistance and transparency, making it a key material for the housings of 3C products. After UV coating, PC can meet the stringent requirements of electronic devices for surface hardness and abrasion resistance. PC is widely used in automotive interiors, cosmetic packaging, and consumer electronics.

ABS/PC alloy materials combine the processability of ABS with the heat resistance of PC and are widely used in vacuum plating and UV coating applications. These materials are extensively employed in automotive interior components, electronic product housings, and other fields. Research indicates that a novel polyurethane-acrylate-based UV coating formulation delivers excellent adhesion and well‑balanced performance on ABS, PC, and ABS/PC substrates.

II. Other Applicable Substrates

In addition to plastic substrates, UV 3C coatings can also be applied to other types of substrates.

Metal substrates are primarily used in 3C products for components such as middle frames and decorative parts. For metal substrates, a specially formulated solvent-based UV‑curable single‑coat metallic paint has been developed; by carefully selecting oligomers and monomers, it minimizes post‑curing coating shrinkage and ensures excellent adhesion. Such coatings are highly valuable for metal‑finished exterior parts in consumer electronics like smartphones and cameras.

Glass substrates are primarily used in optical components such as smartphone screen cover panels and camera‑protective lenses. UV coating formulations applied to glass surfaces provide protective features like scratch resistance and fingerprint resistance. UV‑curable products that exhibit excellent adhesion to a wide range of substrates also include glass substrates.

III. Differences in Substrate Compatibility

Different substrates exhibit varying degrees of compatibility with UV‑3C coatings, necessitating careful consideration in both formulation design and process parameters.

Plastic substrates exhibit high sensitivity to temperature and solvents, while their low surface energy and thermal sensitivity pose significant challenges for coating system development. By selecting oligomers and monomers with appropriate functionality and carefully controlling post‑curing shrinkage, it is possible to maintain crosslink density while ensuring strong adhesion. The application of waterborne UV coatings on plastic substrates also presents specific issues: when the resin exhibits high reactivity, it can lead to excessive etching of the substrate—commonly referred to as “undercutting”—particularly in areas where residual stresses remain at injection‑molding gates, thereby increasing the likelihood of cosmetic defects.

IV. Conclusion

UV 3C coatings are suitable for a wide range of substrate materials, including plastics, metals, and glass. Among plastic substrates, ABS, PC, and ABS/PC alloys are the three most widely used, and they also represent areas where UV 3C coating technology is particularly well‑established. Metal and glass substrates can likewise be employed in specific components, though they require tailored formulation adjustments. The surface characteristics of the substrate—such as surface energy, polarity, thermal resistance, and residual stress—significantly influence coating adhesion and performance. In practical production, selecting a coating formulation and process parameters that match the specific substrate type is essential to achieving optimal coating quality.

Disclaimer: The above content has been compiled from publicly available sources and is provided for reference only. If any infringement occurs, please contact us, and we will address it promptly.

Bossin Related Product Recommendations – 3C Coatings
General-purpose
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-102	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, chemical resistance, contains 15% TMPTA.
B-151	Modified epoxy acrylate	Low halogen, yellowing-resistant, excellent plating performance, and strong adhesion.
B-165	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility and strong adhesion
B-216	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high fullness, and excellent toughness.
B-368	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Good toughness, excellent leveling, excellent bend resistance, and excellent heat resistance.
B-574C	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, low odor, excellent wettability, suitable for LED UV.
B-601	Aromatic polyurethane acrylate	High hardness, scratch resistance, chemical resistance, and excellent cost-effectiveness.
B-6019	Special functional group acrylate	Good leveling, excellent wetting, resistant to boiling water, and superior color dispersion.
B-609	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, scratch resistance, and chemical resistance.
B-615A	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, excellent toughness, wear resistance, and chemical resistance.
B-619W	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, excellent toughness, wear resistance, and chemical resistance.
B-6380N	Special functional group acrylate	Excellent adhesion to plastics, strong hiding power, and improved paint film appearance.
B-919B	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, excellent toughness, and outstanding chemical and wear resistance.
Matte
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-572	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, low odor, excellent wettability, suitable for LED UV.
B-650A	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, excellent matting effect, fast curing, and good wettability.
Wearable device
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-6211	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, scratch-resistant, and free of organotin.
Hand feel
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-328M	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low gloss, low viscosity, excellent wettability, and a pleasant hand feel.
B-868	Organosilicon photocurable resin	Good leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-868H	Organosilicon photocurable resin	Good leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
Large-area spraying
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-374	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Excellent flexibility, good leveling, resistant to abrasion and chemicals, and resistant to yellowing.
Car interior
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-6063	Special functional group acrylate	High molecular weight, low curing shrinkage
B-6210	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, chemical resistance, environmental resistance, and dual photothermal curing.
B-6263	Special functional group acrylate	Fast curing, high build, boil‑water resistant, and excellent toughness.
B-916	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, solvent resistance, chemical resistance, and steel-wool resistance.
B-919B	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, excellent toughness, and outstanding chemical and wear resistance.
Resistant to steel wool
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-910A2	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, yellowing resistance, chemical resistance, and steel-wool resistance.
B-916	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, solvent resistance, chemical resistance, and steel-wool resistance.
B-919B	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, excellent toughness, and outstanding chemical and wear resistance.
Oil-resistant pen
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-868	Organosilicon photocurable resin	Good leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-868H	Organosilicon photocurable resin	Good leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
Battery casing
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-431	Cycloaliphatic Specialty Acrylate	Yellowing-resistant, excellent wettability, low viscosity, fast curing
B-548	Polyester acrylate	Withstands high temperatures of 250–280°C.
Solid color paint
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-519	Self-curing polyester acrylate	Self-initiated photopolymerization performance
B-560	Polyester acrylate	Fast curing and excellent pigment wetting.
Yellowing resistance
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-151	Modified epoxy acrylate	Low halogen, yellowing-resistant, excellent plating performance, and strong adhesion.
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
B-216	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high fullness, and excellent toughness.
B-296	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, chemical resistance, yellowing resistance, impact resistance
B-431	Cycloaliphatic Specialty Acrylate	Yellowing-resistant, excellent wettability, low viscosity, fast curing
Monomer Recommendation
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
BM3231 (TMPTA)	Trimethylolpropane triacrylate	High crosslink density, high hardness, high gloss, and excellent wear resistance.
BM3235 (PET3A)	Pentaerythritol triacrylate	Fast curing, high crosslink density, high hardness, and chemical resistance.
BM3380 (3EO-TMPTA)	Pentaerythritol triacrylate	More flexible and less irritating than TMPTA.
BM4241 (DiTMPTA-80)	Bis(2,3-hydroxymethylpropyl) tetraacrylate	High crosslink density, high hardness, chemical and wear resistance, and water resistance.
BM4242 (Di-TMPTA)	Bis-trimethylolpropane tetraacrylate	High crosslink density, high hardness, chemical and wear resistance, and water resistance.
BM6261 (DPHA-80)	Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate	High crosslink density, high hardness, chemical and wear resistance, and water resistance.
BM6263 (DPHA-90)	Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate	High crosslink density, high hardness, chemical and wear resistance, and water resistance.

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