High-end technology in UV wood coatings


In the high-end wood-products coating sector, surface performance has evolved beyond mere control of gloss and color to encompass a holistic pursuit of tactile experience and functional performance. The integration of excimer-lamp technology with skin-feel UV coatings represents the cutting edge of contemporary wood-finish coating. Excimer lamps utilize specific ultraviolet wavelengths to achieve matte finishes and impart a desired tactile texture; when paired with skin-feel coatings, they enable a highly efficient one-step process that combines two functions in a single application. Coupled with LED-UV primer curing, this approach delivers a premium coating solution that is both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly while delivering an unparalleled hand feel.

I. Principle of Excimer Lamp Technology

An excimer lamp is a light source that emits ultraviolet light in specific wavelength bands and is primarily used in high-end wood coating applications for surface matting and tactile finish formation.

1. 172 nm surface matting

Excimer lamps emit extremely short-wavelength ultraviolet light at 172 nm. Unlike the broad-spectrum UV radiation from conventional mercury lamps, 172-nm UV light is characterized by high energy and shallow penetration depth. When an excimer lamp irradiates a coated surface, the UV light is absorbed only within a very shallow layer at the coating’s surface, triggering rapid shrinkage and crosslinking of the surface resin. Because the curing reaction occurs solely at the surface while the bulk of the coating remains uncured, the resulting stress mismatch between the shrunk surface layer and the underlying uncured layer gives rise to a nanoscale micro-roughness—a fine wrinkled structure on the surface. This micro-roughness scatters incident light in a diffuse manner, thereby achieving an ultra-low-gloss matting effect.

2. Nanoscale wrinkled texture

The micro-ripple texture formed by excimer-lamp curing not only affects optical performance but also determines the tactile characteristics of the coating. When the size and spatial distribution of the nanoscale wrinkled structure are precisely controlled, the coated surface exhibits a fine, smooth, and silky touch. Compared with conventional matting methods, the surface structure produced by excimer lamps is more uniform and dense, resulting in a warmer, softer feel that closely resembles the hand of high-end textiles.

II. Combination of Skin-Feel Paint and Excimer Lamp

Skin-feel UV coating is a topcoat formulation specifically developed for excimer lamp curing processes. Its formulation is tailored to the unique characteristics of excimer lamps, enabling synergistic performance when the two are used in combination.

1. Dual-purpose lamp: curing and matte finishing

The core advantage of the excimer lamp process lies in its ability to combine surface curing with matte finishing in a single step. After applying the skin-feel topcoat, the substrate is first exposed to an excimer lamp, which simultaneously achieves surface matting and pre-cures the top layer. This single step addresses two key challenges: creating a matte finish through micro-roughening of the surface, and stabilizing the microstructure via surface curing to prevent its degradation during subsequent processing. Subsequently, deep curing is performed using conventional mercury lamps or LED lamps to ensure optimal coating hardness and adhesion. The dual-function design of the excimer lamp streamlines the process flow and enhances production efficiency.

2. Fingerprint Resistance and Scratch Resistance

The surface microstructure formed by skin-feel paint combined with excimer lamp technology is dense and uniform, exhibiting excellent anti-fingerprint performance. Fingerprint residues are less likely to be visible on the micro-rough surface and can be easily wiped away. Meanwhile, the high crosslinking density of the topcoat imparts outstanding scratch resistance, effectively guarding against minor scratches encountered in everyday use. These functional characteristics give excimer-lamp–treated skin-feel paint products a distinct advantage when applied to wood surfaces subject to frequent human contact.

III. LED-UV Primer and Excimer Surface

Applying LED-UV curing technology to the curing of primers or primer coats, combined with an excimer-lamp-based topcoat for a skin-like finish, creates a comprehensive coating system that balances energy efficiency with superior performance.

1. Energy-efficient curing and an exceptional tactile experience

LED-UV light sources feature low energy consumption, minimal heat generation, and long service life, making them ideal for primer curing and significantly reducing the energy footprint of the coating process. Moreover, LED-UV curing produces virtually no infrared radiation, thereby preventing thermal damage to wood substrates. By employing LED-UV curing for the primer layer and excimer lamp treatment for the topcoat, this combined approach not only delivers an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly curing process but also achieves an exceptional tactile finish.

2. Compatibility between solid-color and transparent systems

The excimer lamp surface-finishing process exhibits excellent compatibility with various types of topcoats. In clear-coat systems, excimer lamp treatment does not compromise the coating’s transparency; the resulting micro-ripple texture does not lead to a significant increase in haze, and the clear topcoat continues to faithfully reveal the wood grain. In solid-color coating systems, the excimer lamp process likewise delivers a uniform matte finish and a refined tactile feel, unaffected by the type or dosage of pigments used. This characteristic enables the excimer lamp surface-finishing process to be widely applied across high-end wood products of diverse styles and market segments.

IV. Conclusion

The integration of excimer lamp technology with skin-feel UV coatings represents the cutting-edge direction in high-end wood-finish coating. The excimer lamp uses 172 nm ultraviolet light to achieve surface matting and nanoscale wrinkling, imparting an exceptionally matte finish and a refined tactile experience. The dual-function process that combines skin-feel coating with excimer lamp treatment streamlines the workflow while delivering anti-fingerprint and scratch-resistant performance. Moreover, the pairing of LED-UV primers with excimer-cured topcoats creates a comprehensive system that balances energy efficiency and environmental sustainability with superior hand feel. This coating solution demonstrates excellent compatibility across both solid-color and clear-coat systems, providing a reliable technical pathway for the surface finishing of high-end wood products.

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Boxing Recommended Products – UV Wood Coatings

Excimer lamp

Product Model/English Abbreviation

Product Name/Product Type

Product Features

B-241

Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate

Fast curing, excellent skin feel, and excellent 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, containing 20% TPGDA.

B-165

Modified epoxy acrylate

Good flexibility and strong adhesion

B-241

Aliphatic polyurethane acrylate

Fast curing, excellent skin feel, and excellent 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 Product Recommendation

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BM2223/TPGDA

Di(propylene glycol) diacrylate

Good flexibility and low volatility

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Ethoxylated 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate

Excellent 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

Ethoxylated trimethylolpropane 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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