Trend toward more natural-looking materials
- The new FGuard®3D paint system makes furniture surfaces look like real wood
Muenster. It looks like wood and it feels like wood but, actually, it’s paper. On shelves, tables or cupboards, foil coatings provide effects that at first glance appear to be real. BASF has added to its product range the new FGuard® 3D paint system in Europe.
With its pore structures and grain, the newly developed system gives the decorative foil for furniture an appearance resembling real wood. “In addition, the 3D-effect of the finish conveys special haptics,” explained Matthias Schöps, who is responsible for BASF’s foil coatings business. “It allows us to meet the demands of the market, since people increasingly prefer natural materials in their homes.” Without having to use costly real wood, they can use foil coatings to lend a natural wood appearance to doors and furniture.
High standards for coatings
With the FGuard® 3D method, the first step involves using a printing system to print a multicolor decorative pattern on preimpregnated paper. The new FGuard® 3D pore structure paint is applied in the final printing unit. In the next step, a transparent topcoat is applied to the coated paper on a paintline. “The high drying temperature during the hardening of the topcoat causes the 3D structure to develop,” said Michael Janning, BASF’s head of development and technical service for foil coatings, describing the innovation.
The furniture decoration foils coated with this method have to meet high standards in terms of both appearance and function. For instance, they have to be resistant to spots and mechanical damage. “Apart from providing these protective properties, with a wide color range and different effects, they carry out both a visual and, in turn, emotional task,” Matthias Schöps explained. “And this is exactly what our new product does.”
Foil coatings are clearcoats used to coat paper that is printed with a wood pattern. The end product, referred to as “finish foil”, is used to provide furniture, doors, and floor paneling with decorative surface protection. Coating the foils is easier, quicker and more efficient than coating assembled furniture, for example. That saves time and money.
About the Coatings Division
In the Coatings Division, BASF develops, produces and markets a high-quality range of innovative automotive OEM coatings, automotive refinishes and industrial coatings as well as decorative paints. BASF has significant market positions in the Coatings sector in Europe, North America, South America and the Asia Pacific region. In 2012 the Coatings Division of the BASF Group achieved global sales of nearly 3,0 € Euros. The internet address is www.basf-coatings.com. You can download a copy of BASF customer magazine Coatings Partner from www.coatingspartner.com
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of €72.1 billion in 2012 and more than 110,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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