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It is hard to imagine modern products without matt surfaces. Whether furniture, floor coverings, plastic components or high-quality packaging – a uniform matt finish conveys a premium look, a pleasant feel and high design standards. At the same time, demands on durability, scratch resistance and process reliability in industrial manufacturing are increasing.
With excimer technology, IST METZ offers a high-performance solution for creating extremely matt surfaces on UV-curing coatings. The process enables reproducible results at high production speeds and opens up a wide range of application possibilities across various industries.
A surface appears matt when incident light is not reflected in a directed manner, but is scattered diffusely in various directions. As a result, the brightness of the surface remains virtually constant regardless of the viewing angle.
This effect can be achieved in various ways. Matting agents are often incorporated into the coating to cause scattering within the layer. Alternatively, the surface can be specifically textured so that light reflection is altered at a microscopic level.
It is precisely this principle that excimer technology utilises.
Over 20 years ago, a process was developed that mattifies UV-curing coatings through targeted surface texturing. This process makes use of the unique properties of short-wavelength UV radiation: whilst it has high energy, it penetrates only a few micrometres into the coating surface.
During the process, only the topmost coating layer initially cures using an excimer lamp. As this thin layer contracts over the still-liquid coating, a fine microscopic wrinkle structure is created. In the subsequent process step, the underlying coating layer is fully cured using conventional UV radiation. The resulting surface structure is retained and produces the desired matt effect.
The result is extremely matt surfaces with a particularly high-quality appearance.
In recent years, excimer technology has established itself as the industry standard for high-quality matting solutions. Modern excimer systems generate short-wavelength UV radiation with high power density, thereby enabling efficient processing even at large coating widths and high production speeds.
Key benefits include:
“The result of curing with excimer lamps is extremely matt surfaces that offer high scratch and abrasion resistance.”
A typical UV matting system consists of several components that are perfectly coordinated with one another.
At the heart of the system is the excimer lamp, which creates the characteristic surface texture. A medium-pressure UV lamp is then used to ensure the coating cures completely.
Another important component is the inerting of the process chamber with nitrogen. This ensures that the short-wave UV radiation can achieve its maximum effect and guarantees a consistently high surface quality.
Depending on requirements, the system can also be expanded to include a station for pre-curing the lacquer. Through the targeted use of medium-pressure UV lamps, UV LED systems or other viscosity control methods, the desired gloss level can be adjusted with even greater precision.
Excimer technology from IST METZ is used in:
With decades of expertise in UV and LED technology, IST METZ delivers customized excimer solutions that combine high-quality surface finishes, process reliability and maximum production efficiency.
As a leading manufacturer of UV and LED systems, IST METZ develops high-performance excimer solutions for a wide range of industrial applications. By combining lamp technology, electronic control systems, inerting and process expertise, we create bespoke systems that meet the highest quality standards.
Companies benefit from reproducible matting results, high system availability and efficient integration into existing production lines.
For those seeking to achieve high-quality ultra-matt surfaces with maximum process reliability, excimer technology offers a forward-looking solution for modern coating processes.
