Application of high intensity air-borne ultrasound for debubbling liquid coating layers

In the coating processes, the formation of bubbles and microbubbles is relatively frequent inside the coating layer. Such bubbles, which are formed as a consequence of air retention, are difficult to remove and specifically in high-speed (quick-drying) industrial application where they cause permanent imperfections in the homogeneity of the layer. High-intensity air-borne ultrasound may represent a clean means to improve homogenization by quickly breaking the bubbles just when they are formed inside the coating film. This paper deals with the direct application of air-borne high-intensity ultrasonic radiation at a frequency of about 21 kHz over coating layers just immediately they have been deposited over wood substrates. Such novel process has been implemented and experimentally studied at laboratory and semi-industrial stages.