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Common Defects in UV Wood Coatings (Part 5)

Release time:

2026-03-13 16:58

Common Defects in UV Wood Coatings (Part 5)

UV wood coatings aim for a uniform, continuous, and perfectly smooth film; however, in actual production, a defect known as craters frequently disrupts this ideal. On the coating surface, circular depressions of varying sizes appear, often exhibiting a regular bowl- or crater-like morphology, with tiny particles or contaminants typically visible at the center. The edges of these depressions are markedly raised, forming a prominent annular ridge. The craters are usually isolated and differ in depth; in severe cases, they can expose the substrate directly. Under illumination, the craters stand out due to a distinct difference in gloss compared with the surrounding film, while the raised rims reflect a bright halo. Once formed, craters cannot be masked by subsequent coating applications; each reapplication reproduces the same defect on the fresh wet film, posing significant challenges for product rework. Although seemingly minor, these depressions result from uncontrolled paint flow caused by differences in surface tension, reflecting systemic root causes that range from environmental contamination to inadequate substrate cleanliness.

I. Description of the Phenomenon

Circular depressions of varying sizes appear on the paint film surface. These depressions are typically bowl-shaped or crater-like, with a tiny particle or contaminant often present at the center. The edges of the depressions are distinctly raised, forming a prominent annular ridge. The diameter of the depressions ranges from very small to visible to the naked eye, and their depth varies; in severe cases, the underlying substrate may be exposed. Such depressions usually occur in isolation and do not coalesce. Under illumination, the depressed areas exhibit a marked difference in gloss compared with the surrounding intact paint film, and the raised edges create a bright halo. When touched with a finger, the presence of the depression and the raised edge are readily palpable. Once craters have formed, they cannot be masked by subsequent coating applications, as each coat will reproduce the same defect in the newly applied wet film.

II. In-depth Analysis of the Root Causes

1. Differences in Surface Tension

This is a typical case of surface contamination. When low-surface-tension substances such as silicone oil, mineral oil, waxes, or perspiration come into contact with or become entrained in the wet film, the surface tension of the coating at the contaminated area momentarily exceeds that of the surrounding film. According to the principles of fluid flow, the coating flows away from the contaminant, resulting in a central depression surrounded by accumulated material.

2. Sources of Pollution

(1) Airborne particulates: If the workshop ventilation system generates oil mist, or if the area is adjacent to processes that use silicone-based release agents or wax-containing polishing compounds.

(2) Substrate contamination: release agents remaining on the wood surface, as well as hand creams or oils from workers’ hands.

(3) Compressed air: If oil and water are not thoroughly separated from the compressed air used for spraying, oil mist will directly mix into the paint.

(4) The coating itself: Excessive or incompatible addition of defoamers or certain surface additives can lead to the formation of incompatible microdroplets, which in turn can cause cratering.

III. Conclusion

The essence of craters lies in the localized imbalance of surface tension on the paint film, which drives the directional migration of the paint liquid. When low-surface-tension contaminants—such as silicone oil, mineral oil, waxes, or perspiration—contaminate the wet film, a surface-tension gradient is established between the contaminated spot and the surrounding paint, causing the paint to flow outward. This outward flow results in a central depression surrounded by accumulated material, forming a regular crater-like defect. Such contaminants can originate from a wide range of hidden sources: oil mist suspended in workshop air, spray drift of release agents from adjacent processes, residues on the substrate surface, hand creams applied by workers, or even oil mist entrained in compressed air and microdroplets of incompatible additives in the coating itself. Even the slightest disturbance in surface tension can leave an irreversible depressed mark on the paint film, compromising the original smoothness and undermining the integrity and uniformity of the coating.

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Boxing Recommended Products – UV Wood Coatings
Putty primer
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-520	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, high gloss, excellent wettability, and cost-effective
B-522	Polyester acrylate	Low shrinkage, excellent flexibility, strong adhesion, and high cost-effectiveness.
Sanding primer
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
B-163	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, excellent pigment wetting, and strong adhesion.
B-520	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, high gloss, excellent wettability, and cost-effective
B-522	Polyester acrylate	Low shrinkage, excellent flexibility, strong adhesion, and high cost-effectiveness.
Apply primer
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-02	Phosphate ester acrylate	Enhances adhesion to substrates such as metal, glass, and plastic.
B-05	Phosphate ester acrylate	Enhances adhesion to substrates such as metal, glass, and plastic.
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-165	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility and strong adhesion
B-522	Polyester acrylate	Low shrinkage, excellent flexibility, strong adhesion, and high cost-effectiveness.
B-535	Polyester acrylate	Excellent adhesion, rapid curing, good flexibility, and yellowing resistance.
B-546	Polyester acrylate	Good adhesion, fast curing, and excellent flexibility.
White primer
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
B-520	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, high gloss, excellent wettability, and cost-effective
B-522	Polyester acrylate	Low shrinkage, excellent flexibility, strong adhesion, and high cost-effectiveness.
B-529	Polyester acrylate	Good adhesion, low shrinkage, and excellent resin compatibility.
B-560	Polyester acrylate	Fast curing and excellent pigment wetting
Gloss topcoat
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-163	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, excellent pigment wetting, and strong adhesion.
B-165	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility and strong adhesion
B-21C	Active amine photosensitizing promoter	Low color number, antioxidant and polymerization inhibitor, and enhanced curing rate
B-301	Aromatic Polyurethane Acrylate	Fast curing, good toughness, and excellent grindability.
B-302	Aromatic Polyurethane Acrylate	Fast curing, high strength, good toughness, and excellent grindability.
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 performance.
B-609	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, scratch resistance, and chemical resistance.
B-868	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-868H	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-910A2	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, yellowing resistance, chemical resistance, and steel-wool resistance.
B-912	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, good toughness, and excellent chemical and wear resistance.
Matte topcoat
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
B-163	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, excellent pigment wetting, and strong adhesion.
B-21C	Active amine photosensitizing promoter	Low color number, antioxidant and polymerization inhibitor, and enhanced curing rate
B-328M	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low gloss, low viscosity, excellent wettability, and a pleasant hand feel.
B-328R	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low gloss, excellent matting, good wetting, and a fine, smooth, and silky hand feel.
B-333	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, excellent matting performance, good wetting, and excellent flexibility.
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.
B-868	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-868H	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-910A2	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, yellowing resistance, chemical resistance, and steel-wool resistance.
B-912	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, good toughness, and excellent chemical and wear resistance.
Bright White Finish
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
B-301	Aromatic Polyurethane Acrylate	Fast curing, good toughness, and excellent grindability.
B-302	Aromatic Polyurethane Acrylate	Fast curing, high strength, good toughness, and excellent grindability.
B-560	Polyester acrylate	Fast curing and excellent pigment wetting
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 performance.
B-868	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-868H	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-912	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, good toughness, and excellent chemical and wear resistance.
Adherent
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-05	Phosphate ester acrylate	Enhances adhesion to substrates such as metal, glass, and plastic.
B-509B	Polyester acrylate	Good adhesion, good flexibility, and excellent pigment wetting.
B-531	Polyester acrylate	Good adhesion, impact resistance, excellent flexibility, and yellowing resistance.
B-535	Polyester acrylate	Excellent adhesion, rapid curing, good flexibility, and yellowing resistance.
B-546	Polyester acrylate	Good adhesion, fast curing, and excellent flexibility.
B-590	Polyester acrylate	Excellent adhesion, rapid curing, and good pigment wetting.
Filler type
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-520	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, high gloss, excellent wettability, and cost-effective
B-522	Polyester acrylate	Low shrinkage, excellent flexibility, strong adhesion, and high cost-effectiveness.
B-529	Polyester acrylate	Good adhesion, low shrinkage, and excellent resin compatibility.
Color correction
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-560	Polyester acrylate	Fast curing and excellent pigment wetting
Harden
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-301	Aromatic Polyurethane Acrylate	Fast curing, good toughness, and excellent grindability.
B-302	Aromatic Polyurethane Acrylate	Fast curing, high strength, good toughness, and excellent grindability.
B-560	Polyester acrylate	Fast curing and excellent pigment wetting
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 performance.
B-912	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, high hardness, good toughness, and excellent chemical and wear resistance.
Matte
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-328R	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low gloss, excellent matting, good wetting, and a fine, smooth, and silky hand feel.
B-329D	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low irritation, low viscosity, excellent wettability, and a pleasant feel.
B-333	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, excellent matting performance, good wetting, and excellent flexibility.
B-650A	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low viscosity, excellent matting effect, fast curing, and good wettability.
Solid-color paint
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-519	Self-curing polyester acrylate	Self-initiated photopolymerization performance
B-530	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, excellent hydrophobicity, thixotropy, and improved ink misting
B-560	Polyester acrylate	Fast curing and excellent pigment wetting
Yellowing resistance
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
B-431	Cycloaliphatic Specialty Acrylates	Yellowing resistance, excellent wettability, low viscosity, and fast curing
Dip coating
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
Roll coating
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-100	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, excellent chemical resistance, and high fullness.
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-160D	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, yellowing resistance, and excellent adhesion.
B-163	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility, excellent pigment wetting, and strong adhesion.
B-165	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility and strong adhesion
B-520	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, high gloss, excellent wettability, and cost-effective
B-522	Polyester acrylate	Low shrinkage, excellent flexibility, strong adhesion, and high cost-effectiveness.
Solvent-free spraying
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-251	Aromatic Polyurethane Acrylate	Fast curing, excellent flexibility, and good wetting of black ink pigments.
B-520	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, high gloss, excellent wettability, and cost-effective
B-574C	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, low odor, excellent wettability, suitable for LED UV
LED-UV
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-21C	Active amine photosensitizing promoter	Low color number, antioxidant and polymerization inhibitor, and enhanced curing rate
B-241	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, excellent skin feel, and yellowing resistance.
B-27	Active amine photosensitizing promoter	Low color number, benzene-free, low odor, antioxidant and anti-polymerization
B-570	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, benzene-free, low odor, suitable for LED UV
B-574	Polyester acrylate	Benzene-free, low odor, and VOC levels meet cigarette pack standards.
B-574C	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, low odor, excellent wettability, suitable for LED UV
Excimer lamp
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-241	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, excellent skin feel, and yellowing resistance.
Skin feel
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
B-113	Bisphenol A epoxy acrylate	High hardness, high gloss, high fullness, contains 20% TPGDA
B-165	Modified epoxy acrylate	Good flexibility and strong adhesion
B-241	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Fast curing, excellent skin feel, and yellowing resistance.
B-328M	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low gloss, low viscosity, excellent wettability, and a pleasant hand feel.
B-328R	Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate	Low gloss, excellent matting, good wetting, and a fine, smooth, and silky hand feel.
B-574C	Polyester acrylate	Low viscosity, low odor, excellent wettability, suitable for LED UV
B-868	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
B-868H	Organosilicon UV-Curable Resin	Excellent leveling, smooth finish, fast curing, and stain resistance.
Single-item recommendation
Product Model/English Abbreviation	Product Name/Product Type	Product Features
BM2223/TPGDA	Di(propylene glycol) diacrylate	Good flexibility and low volatility
BM2224/EO-HDDA	Ethoxylated 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate	Good adhesion to plastics, good dilutability, and low volatility.
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 excellent chemical resistance.
BM3380/3EO-TMPTA	Tripropylene Glycol Triacrylate	More flexible and less irritating than TMPTA.
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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Common Defects in UV Wood Coatings (Part 6)

Common Defects in UV Wood Coatings (Part 4)