Polyurethane Dispersion (PUD): Applications, Selection, and Coating Solutions

For flexible packaging, cardboard coating, and wood and furniture coating, choosing the right Polyurethane Dispersion (PUD) depends on the substrate, target finish (matt, gloss, soft-touch, hardness), drying conditions, and crosslinking needs. PT Bahtera Adi Jaya supplies the Esacote line from Lamberti — Esacote PU 980, Esacote PU 9510, Esacote PU 77 — along with CROSSLINKER 08 LM for 2K systems.

Before diving into PUD applications and selection, make sure you understand the fundamentals first in Polyurethane Dispersion (PUD): What It Is, Its Function, and How It Works. This article covers where PUD is applied, the factors behind grade selection, and the products available from BAJ.

Where Is PUD Used?

PUD is used across various applications because the polyurethane film’s characteristics can be tailored to the end need.

For the industry needs most relevant, the three main areas stand out:

1.          Flexible packaging

2.          Cardboard coating

3.          Wood and furniture coating

What Role Does PUD Play in Flexible Packaging?

In flexible packaging, PUD can be used as part of a plastic film coating system, including as a binder or film former for overprint varnish (OPV) and finishing.

Common substrates include:

•             BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene)

•             BOPET (Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate)

Applications on plastic film have fairly specific requirements. The coating not only needs to form a good film, but also has to deliver the right combination of characteristics for the printing process and the visual and tactile needs of the packaging.

Some commonly considered parameters include:

Adhesion — The coating needs proper adhesion to the film substrate used.

Appearance — Gloss, matt effect, transparency, and visual clarity can be important parts of the final result.

Flexibility — The layer must be able to follow the film substrate’s characteristics without easily being damaged during processing or handling.

Surface feel — For certain packaging, a surface sensation such as soft, silky, or velvet touch can be part of the product design.

Transparency — For clear coating applications, transparency is an important consideration so that graphics or colors underneath the coating remain visible as intended.

In flexible packaging, characteristics such as low friction, printability, scratch resistance, and the absence of residual tack can also be important parameters depending on the application. Lamberti, for example, has developed several Esacote PUDs for roto/flexo and flexible packaging applications with this combination of characteristics.

How Is PUD Used for Cardboard Coating?

PUD can also be used as a binder or film former in cardboard coating, including for overprint varnish applications.

In this application, the coating can help provide surface protection while also determining the material’s final appearance.

Some common formulation needs include:

•             Surface protection

•             Matt or gloss finish

•             Smooth surface

•             Transparency

•             Adhesion to cardboard

•             Compatibility with water-based systems

PUD selection needs to be tailored to the type of cardboard, coating process, target appearance, and finishing requirements.

For example, some PUD grades are designed to produce an inherently matt film, allowing a matt finish to be achieved without relying entirely on matting additives. Lamberti’s ESACOTE PU 980 is one such PUD intended for OPV applications on cardboard and flexible packaging.

Why Is PUD Used in Wood and Furniture Coating?

In wood and furniture coating, PUD can be used as part of a coating or topcoat system to deliver a combination of appearance and surface protection.

Applications can include:

•             Furniture

•             Wooden surfaces

•             Decorative wood coating

•             Parquet or flooring

•             Clear topcoat

•             Pigmented coating, depending on grade and formulation

Key requirements for this application typically include:

Appearance — The layer must produce a finish that suits the wood’s design or character.

Surface feel — Surface feel can be an important part of the furniture quality that users experience directly.

Matt or gloss finish — PUD can be selected based on the target gloss level.

Surface protection — Formulations can be designed to provide resistance to daily use, with the level of resistance depending on the system and grade selected.

For gloss and resistance needs, for example, ESACOTE PU 77 is a polycarbonate diol-based PUD developed to deliver hardness development, gloss, clarity, and mechanical and chemical resistance.

Is PUD Used in Other Industries?

Globally, polyurethane dispersion can also be found in various other applications, such as:

•             Textile coating

•             Leather finishing

•             Automotive coating

•             Adhesives

•             Industrial coating

That said, PUD usage depends heavily on the grade’s and formulation’s specifications.

For the portfolio covered in this article, BAJ’s application focus is on flexible packaging, cardboard coating, and wood and furniture coating. Whether a particular grade is available for a specific application still needs to be confirmed based on formulation needs and the product’s technical data.

How Do You Choose the Right PUD for an Application?

Choosing a PUD isn’t just about finding a product labeled “polyurethane dispersion Indonesia.” The right grade needs to be selected based on substrate, target finish, production process, and required performance.

Here are the factors to consider.

1. Substrate Type

Start with the substrate to be coated — for example, plastic film, BOPP, BOPET, cardboard, or wood.

A PUD that performs well on wood won’t necessarily provide the same adhesion or film formation on BOPP. That’s why substrate compatibility is one of the first parameters that needs to be checked.

2. Target Finish

Determine the desired final result first — for example, matt, gloss, soft-touch, velvet-touch, silky-touch, transparent, hard, or flexible.

This target will help narrow down the grade choice. If the target is matt with a soft feel, for instance, an inherently matt PUD can be an attractive option. Conversely, if the target is high gloss, hardness, clarity, and chemical resistance, a grade with those characteristics needs to be considered.

3. Adhesion

Adhesion must be evaluated against the actual substrate used in production. Especially with plastic film, the substrate’s surface and its treatment can affect adhesion.

Because of this, don’t rely solely on standalone PUD data — evaluate it within the actual formulation and process conditions.

4. Drying

Drying conditions are also critical in a waterborne polyurethane system. Factors to consider include:

•             Drying temperature

•             Humidity

•             Airflow

•             Line speed

•             Wet film thickness

•             Production speed

•             Environmental conditions

Good film formation requires suitable drying conditions. If the water doesn’t evaporate quickly enough or coalescence isn’t optimal, the final film result can differ from expectations.

5. Crosslinking Needs

Not every PUD formulation requires a crosslinker. However, crosslinking can be used when a formulation needs a boost in certain performance areas, such as hardness, chemical resistance, or mechanical resistance.

One option used in waterborne systems is CROSSLINKER 08 LM, a water-dispersible aliphatic polyisocyanate that can be used as a hardener for both water-based 2K polyurethane and acrylic systems.

In practice, crosslinker requirements need to be determined based on target performance, the PUD’s chemistry, formulation ratio, pot life, application process, and curing conditions.

What PUD Products Are Available from PT Bahtera Adi Jaya?

Once you understand the applications and selection factors, the next step is matching a product to your application needs and desired finish.

PT Bahtera Adi Jaya (BAJ) is a specialty chemicals distributor supplying various raw materials for industrial needs. Its portfolio includes 800+ products across multiple industry categories, backed by formulation development services and technical team support.

For polyurethane dispersion needs, BAJ supplies the Esacote line from Lamberti, including several grades suitable for flexible packaging, cardboard, and wood and furniture coating applications.

*Suitability for clear or pigmented applications needs to be evaluated based on formulation and target performance.

Esacote PU 980: An Option for a Matt Finish

Esacote PU 980 is a waterborne anionic polyurethane dispersion that is inherently matt. Lamberti describes it as a film-forming polymer with a silky touch, excellent transparency on black substrates, and no residual surface tack. This grade is also intended for BOPP/BOPET-based flexible packaging, cardboard OPV, and wood coating including furniture topcoats.

This character makes PU 980 relevant when a formulation needs matt appearance combined with a smooth surface feel, without relying on conventional matting agents to achieve the matt effect.

Esacote PU 9510: Low Gloss with a Velvet Touch

Esacote PU 9510 is a TEA-free waterborne anionic PUD designed as an inherently matt film former.

This grade offers low gloss, a soft or velvet feel, excellent transparency on black substrates, good scratch resistance, low friction, and no residual surface tack. Lamberti also lists its applications for flexible packaging on films like BOPP and BOPET, as well as cardboard applications.

For formulators looking for a matt character with a more pronounced tactile effect, PU 9510 is one option worth evaluating.

Esacote PU 77: An Option for Gloss and Resistance

Unlike PU 980 and PU 9510, which focus on a matt character, Esacote PU 77 is polycarbonate diol-based and intended to produce a film combining hardness, gloss, clarity, and mechanical and chemical resistance.

Lamberti’s technical data shows PU 77 as a binder for clear or pigmented coatings, with good hardness development, high gloss and clarity, a balance between elasticity and hardness, and excellent flow and leveling.

In the context of wood and furniture coating, this character positions PU 77 as a gloss option that complements matt-character PUD grades like PU 980.

CROSSLINKER 08 LM: For 2K Systems

For formulations that require crosslinking, CROSSLINKER 08 LM can be used as a hardener component in a waterborne 2K system.

This product is a water-dispersible aliphatic polyisocyanate and can be used as a crosslinking agent for both water-based polyurethane and acrylic systems.

Its use doesn’t mean every PUD must always use a crosslinker — the need comes back to the target performance and formulation design.

BAJ’s Support for Industry Needs

Beyond supplying raw materials, BAJ also supports industry needs through:

•             Local stock for certain products

•             COA

•             MSDS/SDS

•             Technical sales support

•             Formulation development

•             Support for raw material selection and formulation troubleshooting

BAJ also has an application lab and a team of experts to help with formulation development.

For specific needs, stock availability, batch documents, and grade suitability can be confirmed with BAJ’s technical sales team.

FAQ: What You Should Know Before Using PUD

Q1. Does PUD always require a crosslinker?

Not always.

Some PUDs can be used in a 1K system without an additional crosslinker. A crosslinker can be added when a formulation needs improved performance, such as hardness or chemical and mechanical resistance.

This need must be determined based on the target application and the technical recommendations for the grade used.

Q2. Does every PUD produce a matt surface?

No.

PUD is available with a range of film characters. Some grades are designed to produce an inherently matt film, while others are intended to deliver gloss, clarity, hardness, flexibility, or other surface characters.

That’s why grade selection should start from the target finish.

Q3. Is BAJ’s PUD solvent-free?

For Esacote PU 980, the product is stated as a solvent-free waterborne PUD.

However, this claim cannot be generalized to every type of PUD. Each product needs to be checked against its own technical data and specifications.

Q4. Are COA and MSDS/SDS available?

Yes. For product distribution needs, BAJ provides technical documentation such as COA and MSDS/SDS, which can be used for quality and technical evaluation purposes. Document and batch details can be confirmed with the BAJ team.

A Trusted Partner for Your Chemical Needs

As a trusted chemical distributor with 20+ years of experience, Bahtera Adi Jaya supplies 800+ products from 50+ suppliers to serve 6 industries across Indonesia, including the Esacote polyurethane dispersion line from Lamberti for flexible packaging, cardboard coating, and wood and furniture coating.

With experience handling 10,000+ transactions, we’re ready to be your partner in providing chemical solutions that fit your application and business needs here!.