Soft Touch Polyurethane Coatings: The Future-Proof Coating Solution

What are Soft Touch Polyurethane Coatings?
Soft touch polyurethane coatings are high-performance coatings that provide a soft, silky, and velvety surface finish. These coatings are formulated by incorporating special polymeric additives into polyurethane chemistry which results in a coating film with a reduced surface tension and increased surface smoothness.

Advantages of Softness
The softness imparted by these special additives makes the finished products very pleasing and comfortable to touch. Products coated with soft touch polyurethane coatings feel smooth, rich, and luxurious against human skin. This softness creates an elevated consumer experience.

Durability of Polyurethane
Despite providing a soft finish, soft touch polyurethane coatings are extremely durable and long-lasting due to the robust polyurethane chemistry. Polyurethane coatings are highly resistant to wear, abrasion, chemicals, solvents, UV light, and weathering. The softness does not compromise on the protective properties of polyurethane.

Resistance to Fingerprints and Smudges
An important attribute of soft touch coatings is their ability to resist fingerprints and smudges. The reduced surface tension makes it difficult for fingerprints, smears, and stains to adhere to the surface. Products with these coatings can therefore maintain their pristine appearance for a long time.

Application Versatility
Soft touch polyurethane coatings can be applied on a wide variety of substrates including plastics, composites, wood, metals, and painted surfaces through conventional liquid coating methods like spraying, dipping, and brushing. They are suitable for vertical as well as horizontal surfaces. These coatings are compatible with automated high-speed coating lines as well.

Variety in Surface Finishes
Coating formulators can modify the chemistry to produce soft touch coatings with different finishes ranging from subtle softness to pronounced velvety effects. Gloss levels from low-sheen to high-gloss can also be achieved. A vast palette of exciting special effects and tactile textures can therefore be created.

Regulatory Compliance
All soft touch polyurethane coatings are formulated using only approved raw materials to meet stringent health, safety, and environmental regulations. They are safe for their intended applications and many also have certifications like UL Recognition.

Market Opportunities
Soft touch coatings open up exciting new possibilities across industries like consumer electronics, home appliances, sanitaryware, furniture, automotive interior and exterior trim components, medical devices, and more. Their ability to improve user and customer experience economically makes them future-proof for diverse applications.

As sophisticated consumers demand products that offer superior aesthetic and tactile appeal, polyurethane coatings are rapidly gaining popularity. Their exceptional characteristics coupled with a widespread compatibility create massive market opportunities globally for innovators. Undoubtedly, these coatings will play a pivotal role in innovations across various industries in the coming years.