January 10, 2019
ADEKA Corporation

People- and eco-friendly, a water-soluble UV curing material
is developed with low VOC content
ADEKA Corporation (President and Chief Executive Officer: Hidetaka Shirozume) has
developed a water-soluble UV curing material, a people- and eco-friendly resin material thatcan be cured by the use of ultraviolet rays (UV) and LED.
The water-soluble UV curing material (hereinafter, “THE MATERIAL”) is a totally new,high-functional material: it excels in water resistance, a common problem in water borne
materials, while having a “water-soluble molecular structure” designed with a combination of
our organic synthesis technology and UV curing technology.
Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from organic solvents contained in materials
such as printing ink and coating agents can adversely affect human body and cause air pollution.
For this reason, environmental regulations on VOCs have been tightened globally. Development
efforts are underway in materials such as water borne UV curable materials, for the purpose ofreducing their VOC emissions. Nevertheless, organic solvents system still remain common.
THE MATERIAL involves no use of organic solvents and does not have adverse effects onworkers. It minimizes the risk of air pollution, sick building syndrome and other hazards. THEMATERIAL forms a high-density structure after UV curing, which improvements oxygen barrier
properties. For example, it can be improved the quality retention performance of c content inplastic container by coating. Moreover, THE MATERIAL is more reactive than conventional water
borne UV curing materials and is characterized by high water resistance.
We develop products to satisfy needs in printing, coating, electronic materials, displays andany other applications in an effort to contribute to the reduction of burdens on people and theenvironment.

◆Information about the water-soluble UV curing material◆(1) Characteristics and expected effects

i. No use of organic solvents
Many conventional materials had to be dissolved in an organic solvent or involved
dispersion of resin in water. We originally designed a “water-soluble molecularstructure” which is characterized by high water solubility and uses no organic solvent.
This achieves low VOC content in drying.
THE MATERIAL
Ingredients WaterWater borne UV curing material

Organic solvent-based UV(emulsion type)curing material

Water + organic solvent

Organic solvent+ polymer+ polymer+ polymer+ photoinitiator + monomer+ photoinitiator + monomer+ photoinitiator + monomer

Solubility

Entirely water soluble

Dispersed in water

Soluble in organic solvents

VOC emission

Low

Intermediate

Highii. High resistance to water
Conventional water borne materials tended to entail poor resistance to moisture in the
cured film. In contrast, THE MATERIAL is highly resistant to water thanks to the
optimized design of its structure and compounding.

iii. High oxygen barrier properties
Coating THE MATERIAL on polyethylene or other types of plastic film can reduce its
oxygen permeability to approximately one tenth and can be expected to prevent its
content from oxidizing, enhancing its preservability.

iv. Patterning can be performed with water only
In a photolithography process, patterning can be performed with the use of water only.
In photoresist materials, circuit materials and other electronic materials, THEMATERIAL can be expected to be applicable to plastic substrates that have weakresistance to organic solvents.
Photolithography process:v. Curing can be performed with LED light source
In recent years, the light source for curing is shifting from mercury lamps to LED lamps,driven by consideration about the environmental impact. THE MATERIAL is also
applicable to the various wavelength of LEDs (ex. 365, 385, 395 and 405 nm), in
addition to the use of a mercury lamp in curing.
(2)External evaluation
THE MATERIAL was announced at the 27th Polymer Materials Forum (held by the Societyof Polymer Science, Japan on November 21) and received the Publicity Prize from thePublic Relations Committee of the Society of Polymer Science, Japan.
(3)Assumed applications
Printing ink, Coating agents, Photoresist materials, Circuit materials, Paints, Adhesivesetc.

 Contacts
ADEKA Corporation
Publicity & Administration group , Legal Affairs ＆ Publicity Department
Tel: +81-3-4455-2803