March, 2019
www.us-
tech.com
Page 67
Strippables” Applied as Coatings, Not Films T
By Del Williams
emporary protective films are designed to protect everything from automobiles to appli- ances, construction products, and house-
wares. Designed to be easily peeled off by the cus- tomer, these “strippable” films safeguard easily damaged surfaces during post-processing metal fabrication operations, shipping, handling, and installation. Traditionally, strippable films have been
applied to surfaces by hand or machine as sheets of film during or after manufacturing. The protective films are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive designed to bond to surfaces yet remove cleanly when no longer needed. However, to match products of various sizes
and characteristics, the films must be ordered in various widths and lengths. For uniquely shaped parts or products, temporary protective films can be die-cut to a particular shape. The type and strength of adhe-
sive on the films must also be consid- ered. Care must be taken to ensure the films adhere properly, without damaging or creating defects in the underlying coating’s integrity, gloss or color.
Liquid Strippable Coatings “If there is any particulate or
even a dirt speck in the film during application or roll up, it can mar the coating beneath it,” says Dan Chin, president of Universal Chemicals & Coatings (Unichem), a custom coat- ing and adhesives formulator. “You also have to ensure the adhesive does not alter the coating’s gloss, color, or soften it in any way.” For this reason, Chin says test-
ing should be conducted to ensure compatibility of the adhesive on the back of the film or the liquid strip- pable to be applied with the underly- ing coating.
Liquid strippable coatings solidify into a protective film after coating,
protecting products before removal by the customer.
Given all these factors — the
variety of film sizes and level of adhesion required — means that sig- nificant inventory must be held in stock, which increases overall costs. As an alternative, a versatile
family of liquid strippable coatings — applied in the same manner as
color coatings or adhesives on coil processing lines — is helping to speed processing, eliminate film inventory and reduce costs. Unlike pre-cut protective films, the coatings are applied to whatever width of coil is required, in any thickness, and in formulations that ensure the proper bond is achieved. Liquid strippables can be for-
mulated with properties that can vary from flexible to rigid, depend- ing on the formulation. In terms of coil processing, these coatings pro- vide a strong, abrasion-, moisture-, and chemical-resistant barrier. The liquid coatings, which solid-
ify into a protective film after heating and processing, are applied on every- thing from polished metals to plastics and even other coatings. The technol- ogy provides a wide range of adhesion options, which can be adjusted and controlled to meet the specific requirements for forming and stamp-
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ing operations. “After a strippable coating is applied, coil
processors and manufacturers can carry out any post-processing application like die-cutting, bend- ing and even deep-drawing, without damaging the surface,” says Chin. He adds that strippable coatings can be
Strippable films protect products in transit and can be easily peeled off by the customer.
designed with a wide range of capabilities. “Strippables can be formulated to meet the per- formance standards of very specific applications, whether soft and pliable or hard and durable,” he says. As an example, he points to a growing use of strippables for building products. “After putting a finished coating on a building product like siding or roofing, you would put a
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