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Performance and versatility can be greatly improved by using them in combination with a primer. The combination of hardcoat and primer are often referred to as a hardcoating system. The primer provides adhesion to multiple substrates, impact resistance and tintability. The hardcoat provides abrasion and scratch resistance, as well as a host of other features. For the lab and manufacturer, working closely with the hardcoating supplier, one can carefully select both primer and topcoat, and thereby optimize performance of the hardcoating system.
Thermal vs. UV: Most coatings are cured by either UV light or heat (thermal) exposure. The choice of cure method depends on the chemistry of the coating. Each of these two types of coatings has their advantages and disadvantages. The following is a summary of the general pros and cons of each. These are typical attributes of each of these classes of coatings&#;not all coatings in each class are alike.
Thermally Cured Coatings: Thermally cured coatings were traditionally used only by lens manufacturers and referred to as factory coatings or the front side coating on a semi-finished lens blank. They have good to excellent abrasion resistance and AR compatibility. They allow the option of using primers to achieve better adhesion, tintability and impact enhancement. Most thermally cured coatings are designed for adhesion to a single substrate. This makes them ideal in the lens manufacturing environment. The use of a primer, however, allows the same coating to be used on multiple substrates or even as an overcoat (more details below). This has resulted in increased usage of thermally cured coatings at labs and retailers. Thermally cured coatings are generally thought to be more compatible with AR and mirror coatings. Thermally cured coatings can be spin or dip coated. Thermally cured coatings have longer cure times (typically one to four hours) and have limited substrate compatibility.
UV Cured Coatings: UV cured coatings are traditionally used in the laboratory environment and at some lens manufacturers. The advantages of UV cure coatings are quick cure time and multiple substrate compatibility. This makes them ideal for the laboratory or retailer where multiple substrates are used and quick turnaround times are expected. UV cured coatings can be applied by spin coating, dip coating or in-mold coating. Spin coating is the most typical method of application. UV cured coatings are typically lower in abrasion resistance and often less compatible with AR and mirror coatings. UV cure coatings often have good steel wool abrasion resistance, but do not perform as well as thermally cured coatings in the Bayer Abrasion Test (more on test methods below).
Hybrid Coatings: This is a new category of coatings. The goal is to combine the "best of both worlds." These coatings are cured by first exposing them to UV light, followed by a short thermal cure. This results in a coated surface with the abrasion resistance and AR compatibility of thermally cured coatings and the quicker cure time of UV cured coatings.
Overcoating: Overcoating is the technique of applying a hardcoat over an existing hardcoat. This is used to apply the same coating on the front and back surface of a lens that already has a factory coating on the front surface or both sides of the lens. This allows the lab or retailer to apply a premium hardcoat with consistent performance on both surfaces and on all substrates. A primer is used to achieve adhesion on a variety of factory coatings, as well as a variety of bare substrates. A thermally cured coating is then applied over the primer. Using this process, the lab or retailer can produce lenses with premium abrasion resistance, optics and AR compatibility on both surfaces and on all substrates. Some coating systems require that lenses have the factory hardcoat etched off with an acid wash before overcoating.
Coatings are commonly used in a wide range of applications, ranging from protecting surfaces to enhancing their appearance as they offer a wide range of benefits. There are two main types of coating: soft and hard. While both types of coating offer advantages, there are significant differences between them.
Soft or hard coating: which is the right for the job
What are soft coatings?
Soft coatings are typically made of organic polymers, such as urethane, and have a low surface hardness. They are often used to enhance the performance and durability of surfaces. Soft coatings provide excellent adhesion to substrates, which allows for a strong bond between the coating and the surface. Additionally, they offer superior flexibility, making them ideal for use in applications where the coated surface will undergo frequent flexing, bending, and impact. Soft coatings are also resistant to chemicals, dynamic abrasion, cavitation, and corrosion, making them ideal for use in harsh environments.
Soft coatings are ideal for specific applications, such as pump impellers and mill circuit chutes that are prone to cavitation and dynamic abrasion. These coatings are designed to absorb impact energy instead of deflecting it, making them an excellent choice in those settings.
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What are hard coatings?
Hard coatings, on the other hand, are made of inorganic materials, such as ceramics, and have a high surface hardness. They are often used to protect surfaces from linear wear, scratch, and impact damage. Hard ceramic coatings can offer superior linear abrasion resistance and are ideal for use in applications where the coated surface will undergo significant linear wear but little to no impact. Additionally, hard coatings can provide some corrosion resistance, making them ideal for use in rough environments.
Hard ceramic coatings are ideal for situations where re-shaping of a solid structure is required or where there are substantial linear erosion issues such as in transfer vessels where there is very small turbulence but aggressive slurry transfer.
Difference between soft and hard coatings
The primary difference between soft and hard ceramic coatings lies in their hardness. Soft coatings have a low surface hardness and are flexible, while hard coatings have a high surface hardness and are rigid. The choice between a soft or hard coating depends on the application and the surface being coated. In general, soft coatings are more suitable for applications where flexibility, impact resistance, cavitation resistance, and chemical resistance are critical. In contrast, hard coatings are more suitable for applications where linear wear and abrasion resistance are important.
Soft coatings can also offer some degree of self-healing, meaning that the coating can repair minor damage on its own, without the need for manual intervention. Hard coatings, on the other hand, typically cannot self-heal, but can offer superior scratch and linear wear resistance.
Which MetaLine product is soft or hard coating?
As we saw, soft and hard coatings are two types of coating that offer different benefits. Soft coatings such as Global Pumps MetaLine 700 series are flexible, chemically resistant, and offer some degree of self-healing, while hard coatings such as Global Pumps MetaLine XL Series are rigid, can provide superior linear abrasion and scratch resistance, and can provide structure for building up worn areas.
With a wide range of MetaLine products and inhouse coating specialist consultation, Global Surface Protection can help you choose the perfect soft or hard coating for the application and surface of your need.
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The company is the world’s best Hardcoats supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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