By Lisa Guerriero
Part 2 of 2
Print professionals continue to capitalize on the growing trend of wallcoverings. Liquid coatings are a useful tool for this application. Some vendors manufacture coatings exclusively developed for wallcoverings, while others offer multipurpose products.
This article highlights some of the liquid coating products used in protecting wall graphics.
A Collection of Coatings
Bordeaux Digital PrintInk Ltd.’s line of UV coatings, Clear Wide, includes two options that are suitable for wallcoverings. Clear Wide Flex Gloss and Clear Wide Flex Matte are compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, latex, and UV printing. They are for indoor and short-term outdoor applications, and offer chemical and scratch resistance.
The company designed Clear Wide Flex Gloss and Flex Matte for use with most vinyl and wallcovering applications. It sells the coating in five or 55 gallon quantities, as well as nine pound samples. The products are available through resellers, which can be found on Bordeaux’s website. Users can apply the UV coatings inline—either flood or spot coat depending on machine—or offline by roller or spray, according to Bordeaux.
DreamScape offers DreamGuard Protex 3 Liquid Topcoat, available directly through the company’s website or distributors. The product is compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, latex, and UV printing. DreamScape designed the coating specifically for vinyl wallcoverings, including its own heavily textured wall products.
DreamScape sells the coating at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $11, $75, and $315 for one pint, one gallon, or five gallon containers, respectively. A gallon of DreamGuard Protex 3 covers approximately 800 to 1,000 square feet depending on the texture of the media, at an average cost of eight to 10 cents per square foot, the company estimates. Users can apply the coating by hand using a paint roller with a quarter-inch nap or by machine. In addition, DreamGuard Protex 3 may be applied with the graphic lying flat before install or vertically after the graphic is on the wall.
Drytac Corporation offers three coatings for wallcoverings—EnduraCoat UltraMural, EnduraCoat Color Capture in Wallpaper Matte, and EnduraCoat Transit Matte. The products are available directly through the company or dealers. Drytac typically sells its coatings by the gallon, with prices of $109 per unit for EnduraCoat UltraMural, $115 for EnduraCoat Color Capture in Wallpaper Matte, and $123 for EnduraCoat Transit Matte. The company estimates the cost per square foot at 15 to 20 cents for an average application. Most application methods are acceptable, but Drytac recommends using a flood coater for consistent coverage.
EnduraCoat UltraMural offers an ultra-matte sheen and is compatible with solvent and latex ink. The aqueous-based coating is for indoor and outdoor use, and is designed for wallcoverings as well as murals and backdrops. EnduraCoat Color Capture is an aqueous acrylic coating meant to protect from the stretching and scratching associated with canvas and fine art printing, as well as color and image protection. Drytac designed the Wallpaper Matte version for wall use. It is meant for aqueous ink—which is relatively rare for a wallcovering coating—as well as latex, solvent, and UV. EnduraCoat Transit Matte, though designed for vehicle wraps, benefits wall applications that require UV protection. It is compatible with UV ink and offers extra durability for outdoor graphics.
Marabu North America formulates ClearShield Wall Armor specifically for wallcoverings, providing stain and scratch resistance as well as cleanability. Sold through the company’s dealer network, the product is compatible with latex, UV, solvent, and eco-solvent ink.
ClearShield Wall Armor is available in quarts, gallons, five gallon buckets, and 55 gallon drums. Marabu says the price per square foot varies widely, depending on the quantity purchased and how it’s applied, but estimates the cost at eight to 25 cents on average. The company suggests using its StarLam roll-to-roll liquid laminator to apply the coating, to ensure uniform film thickness and a consistent finish. However, print professionals can also apply ClearShield Wall Armor with a roller—high-density foam or short nap—or with a gravity-fed spray gun.
Premier Imaging Products manufactures two types of coatings, both available through the company’s dealer network. The solvent-based PremierArt Print Shield is useable on canvas or paper-based media. The company designed it to protect graphics from UV, moisture, and scuffing while eliminating gloss differential. PremierArt Print Shield is available in spray form, an aerosol can of 400 milliliters, or a bulk bottle of five liters.
The company’s other coating is PremierArt Eco Print Shield, designed for water-resistant media and inks. The water-based coating is available in matte, satin, or gloss. It offers scratch, light, and moisture resistance. Premier Imaging guarantees it will not yellow, crack, or become brittle. Low in volatile organic compounds, it is available in quarts, gallons, or 55 gallon drums. Application methods include roller, brush, or spray gun.
A Coat That Fits
Liquid coatings are as varied as the wallcoverings they cover. Some products are geared for indoor or outdoor use, and others target specific types of ink and media. Print professionals looking to add a layer of protection are presented with quality options to select the coating that best suits their needs.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, An Extra Layer of Protection.
Click on the link above to get more information on the vendors mentioned in this article.
Jun2015, Digital Output DOPCW1506
