The high performance characteristics of two pack acrylic polyols has led in the last two decades, to its use in a diverse range of sectors. The variety of application methods used in those sectors include:
• brush
• roller
• conventional spray
• air-assisted airless spray
• airless spray
• electrostatic spray
• airless electrostatic spray
• HVLP (high volume low pressure)
The choice of application method is dependent on a number of factors, including end use sector, economics, user preference, factory/field applied, finish required and more recently transfer efficiency. The introduction of VOC legislations require substantial reduction in VOC emissions. This is to be met not only by formulating higher solid/water based coatings, but also by the use of application techniques with higher transfer efficiencies. Conventional spray has at best a transfer efficiency of 45%, whereas a transfer efficiency of 60%-90% is achievable by using HVLP, electrostatic or high pressure application.