METHOD OF COATING MOLDED METALS FOR ABRASION RESISTANCE
A method of coating molded metals includes cleaning a molded metal, coating the molded metal with a coating, and curing the coated molded metal. The coating includes monofunctional monomers, multifunctional monomers, and acrylic oligomers. A molded metal coating application system includes a conveyor configured to transport a molded metal. A cleaning stage is configured to clean the molded metal. A coating stage is configured to deposit a coating on the molded metal. A curing stage is configured to cure the deposited coating on the molded metal. The coating includes monofunctional monomers, multifunctional monomers, and acrylic oligomers.
1 . A method of coating molded metals comprising:
cleaning a molded metal;
coating the molded metal with a scratch and abrasion resistant coating; and
curing the coated molded metal,
wherein the coating comprises monofunctional monomers, multifunctional monomers, and acrylic oligomers, and
wherein the coating has a pencil hardness greater than 6H.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating has a thickness in a range between approximately 1 micron to approximately 50 microns.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the molded metal comprises aluminum.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the molded metal comprises magnesium.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning comprises a corona treatment process.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a spray coating process.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the curing comprises a UV curing process.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a curing speed of the curing is controlled to achieve a target cross-linked density.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the molded metal is transported on a conveyor at a speed in a range between approximately 10 feet per minute to approximately 400 feet per minute.
11 . A molded metal coating application system comprising:
a conveyor configured to transport a molded metal;
a cleaning stage configured to clean the molded metal;
a coating stage configured to deposit a scratch and abrasion resistant coating on the molded metal; and
a curing stage configured to cure the deposited coating on the molded metal,
wherein the coating comprises monofunctional monomers, multifunctional monomers, and acrylic oligomers, and
wherein the coating has a pencil hardness greater than 6H.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the coating has a thickness in a range between approximately 1 micron to approximately 50 microns.
13 . (canceled)
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the molded metal is aluminum.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the molded metal is magnesium.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the cleaning stage is a corona treatment module.
17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the coating stage is a spray coating module.
18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the curing stage is a UV curing module.
19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein a curing speed of the curing stage is controlled to achieve a target cross-linked density.
20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the conveyor transports the molded metal at a speed in a range between approximately 10 feet per minute to approximately 400 feet per minute.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises solid content with a concentration by weight of approximately 70% to approximately 80%, a photo-initiator concentration in a range between approximately 1% to approximately 6%, and a solvent concentration in a range between approximately 10% to approximately 30%.
22 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the coating comprises solid content with a concentration by weight of approximately 70% to approximately 80%, a photo-initiator concentration in a range between approximately 1% to approximately 6%, and a solvent concentration in a range between approximately 10% to approximately 30%.