Process for priming a surface and article

1. A process for priming a surface comprising;

i) applying a UV radiation curable to the area to be primed

ii) curing the primer with UV radiation provided by one or more UV lamps having a UV-B:UV-A ratio of 1:1 or less,

the UV radiation curable primer comprising

A) 0-84% by weight of one or more compounds containing one ethylenically unsaturated free-radically polymerisable group per molecule

B) 5-50% by weight of one or more compounds containing two or more ethylenically unsaturated free radically polymerisable groups per molecule

C) 10-70% by weight of one or more pigments, fillers and/or dyes

D) 1-8% by weight of one or more photoinitiators

E) 0-20% by weight of volatile organic solvent said

F) 0-10% by weight of customary additives.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 , which also includes:

iii) sanding the primer and topcoating the primer with one or more topcoats.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 , in which the surface is wiped with a solvent after curing and before sanding and topcoating.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the UV lamps have a UV-B:UV-A ratio of 0.2:1 or less.

5. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the UV lamps have a UV-B:UV-A ratio of 0.05:1 or less.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the UV lamps have a UV-B:UV-A ratio of 0.25:1 or less.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which component C consists principally of zinc sulphide, barium sulphate, china clay and corrosion inhibiting pigments and/or other UV transparent or semi-transparent pigments or dyes.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the primer has a PVC of 10 to 50%.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which component D includes a bis acyl phosphine oxide.

10. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the primer is free from volatile organic solvent.

11. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which component A and/or component B contain acrylate groups.

12. A process as claimed in claim 11 in which component A is principally isobornyl acrylate and/or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.

13. A process as claimed in claim 11 in which component B consists principally of one or more epoxy acrylates and/or one or more urethane acrylates.

14. A process as claimed in claim 13 in which component B is principally an epoxy acrylate.

15. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the surface is part of a motor vehicle.

16. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the curable primer comprises 5 to 50% by weight of component A.

17. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the curable primer comprises 10 to 40% by weight of component A.

18. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the curable primer comprises 25 to 35% by weight of component A.

19. A process as claim in claim 1 , in which the primer contains 10-40% by weight of component B.

20. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the primer contains 25 to 35% by weight of component B.

21. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which the primer contains

25 to 35% by weight of isobornyl acrylate and/or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate

25 to 35% by weight of epoxy acrylate

20 to 30% by weight of china clay

5 to 15% by weight of corrosion inhibiting pigments

1 to 3% by weight of bis acyl phosphine oxide

0.1 to 10% by weight of adhesion promoters, pigment dispersants, flow aids, wetting aids and rheology modifiers.

22. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which an aerosol is used to apply the primer and the primer composition additionally includes one or more propellants.

23. A process as claimed in claim 1 , which is a refinishing process.

24. A surface whenever treated by a process as claimed in claim 1 .