Polyester and UV-cured finishes

Overview

Polyester and UV-cured finishes are industrial coatings. Finishworks' UV Cure page says its UV coatings reach full cure "in a matter of seconds", come as pigmented, clear, waterborne and 100% solids options, and are meant for flooring and high-wear areas. They are applied by spray, roll coat, robotic, edge-coat or vacuum-coat equipment, and the page directs buyers to contact a representative. This entry is short because the only technical source we read was that single manufacturer page and a Wikipedia note; it is not a guide to doing it yourself.

Pros

• Speed: full cure in seconds on a UV line (Finishworks, maker claim).
• Meant for flooring and high-wear surfaces (Finishworks).
• Several chemistries are offered, including waterborne and 100% solids (Finishworks).

Cons

• Needs production equipment: UV lamps and spray, roll, robotic, edge or vacuum coating lines (Finishworks).
• Wikipedia notes that quinone extractives in cocobolo and African padauk retard the cure of unsaturated polyester and UV-cured acrylate coatings, so some timbers are a problem.
• We found no published cure, hardness or VOC data for the Finishworks UV products; contact the supplier.

Suitability

A choice for factory-finished flooring, panels and cabinet parts, where the coating is applied before assembly. The sources we read describe only line application. For a small-shop approach to a hard film, look at Catalyzed polyurethane (2K), Conversion varnish or Pre-catalyzed and post-catalyzed lacquer. For what factory finishing means for buyers, see Pre-finished and factory finishes.

Coats and application

Applied by the manufacturer's equipment per the supplier's instructions. Finishworks lists spray, roll coat, robotic, edge-coat and vacuum-coat methods. We have no coat counts or film thickness for these products. Surface preparation matters: see Sanding schedule for general principles.

Compatibility

• Wikipedia: oily or resinous timbers containing quinones (cocobolo and African padauk are named) interfere with polyester and UV-acrylate cure. Check with the supplier for any extractive-rich timber and see Degreasing oily woods.
• No source we read covers overcoating a UV or polyester film in the field. Ask the manufacturer.

Care and repair

Follow the supplier's guidance. We found no cleaning or repair data for these coatings in the sources we read.

Safety and environment

We found no safety data on the Finishworks UV page; consult the SDS from the manufacturer. No food-contact claim is made here; see Food-safe finishes.

Related

• Pre-finished and factory finishes: what factory finishes mean in practice
• Catalyzed polyurethane (2K): closest small-shop equivalent
• Conversion varnish
• Degreasing oily woods