PURETE

In today’s furniture and decorative materials industry, the demand for products that combine aesthetic appeal with tactile comfort is stronger than ever. Consumers and designers alike seek surfaces that not only look elegant but also feel pleasant to the touch. This trend has accelerated the adoption of Soft-Touch coatings, especially those utilizing Excimer technology. With its superior surface properties, Soft-Touch (Excimer) coating has become a popular solution in high-end furniture, decorative panels, and interior design elements.

What Is Soft-Touch (Excimer) Coating?

Soft-Touch coating refers to a surface treatment that creates a silky-smooth, matte, and velvety feel. Traditional matte coatings often suffer from drawbacks such as fingerprint marks, low scratch resistance, and a lack of depth in appearance. Excimer technology overcomes these issues by providing ultra-matte finishes that are both highly durable and visually sophisticated.

Excimer curing involves using excimer lamps, to induce a photochemical reaction on the coating surface. This reaction creates a micro-structured surface without fully curing the deeper layers. After excimer exposure, a subsequent UV curing step is used to completely harden the coating. The result is a surface that exhibits:

Ultra-matte appearance (gloss levels below 5 GU)

High scratch and abrasion resistance

Anti-fingerprint properties

A deep, soft-touch feel

These properties make Soft-Touch (Excimer) coatings ideal for applications where both aesthetics and functionality are critical.

How Excimer Technology Works

The core process of Soft-Touch (Excimer) coating includes the following steps:

Coating Application: A UV-curable coating is applied onto the substrate through methods like roller coating or spray coating.

Excimer Irradiation: The coated surface is exposed to excimer light. The high-energy ultraviolet radiation causes polymerization only at the topmost layer, creating a fine microfolded structure that scatters light, resulting in an ultra-matte finish.

Secondary UV Curing: The rest of the coating layer is then fully cured using conventional UV lamps, ensuring complete mechanical strength and chemical resistance.

Because the microstructure is created physically rather than chemically, Excimer coatings achieve consistent, defect-free matte finishes without the typical additives that might compromise surface durability.

Applications in Furniture and Decorative Materials

1. Furniture Panels

Soft-Touch (Excimer) coatings are widely used on MDF, particle board, and plywood panels for manufacturing premium furniture pieces such as:

Cabinets

Tabletops

Closet doors

Shelving units

The smooth, velvet-like finish enhances the perceived value of furniture, making it highly desirable for luxury interiors. Additionally, the scratch and abrasion resistance ensures that the furniture maintains its pristine appearance over time, even in high-use environments.

2. Wall Panels and Partitions

Interior designers often use decorative wall panels to create visual interest and a sense of sophistication in spaces. Panels treated with Soft-Touch (Excimer) coatings offer not only a stylish matte look but also a unique tactile experience that invites touch, making spaces more engaging and comfortable.

3. Kitchen and Bathroom Applications

Kitchens and bathrooms demand surfaces that are easy to clean, resistant to moisture, and durable against daily wear. Excimer-coated surfaces meet these requirements while delivering a contemporary, muted aesthetic that is highly sought after in modern kitchen and bathroom designs.

Because the surfaces are also fingerprint-resistant, they maintain a clean look with minimal maintenance, which is particularly important in high-touch areas like cabinet doors, countertops, and vanity units.

4. Office Furniture and Workspaces

Office environments benefit greatly from the use of Soft-Touch (Excimer) coatings, especially in worktops, desks, and partitions. The non-glossy, anti-glare properties of the ultra-matte finish help reduce eye strain, while the soft texture adds comfort, making workspaces more user-friendly and ergonomic.

5. Door and Drawer Fronts

High-end residential and commercial interiors often feature doors and drawers finished with Soft-Touch coatings. These surfaces resist daily wear and tear while offering a sleek, elegant look that elevates the overall interior design.

Advantages of Using Soft-Touch (Excimer) Coating

The application of Soft-Touch (Excimer) coatings provides a wide range of advantages, including:

Superior Aesthetics: Ultra-matte surfaces with a deep, rich finish that enhance design sophistication.

Durability: High resistance to scratches, chemicals, and mechanical abrasion ensures long-lasting quality.

Comfortable Tactile Sensation: A silky-smooth feel that enhances the user's interaction with the furniture.

Easy Maintenance: Anti-fingerprint and anti-stain properties reduce cleaning frequency and effort.

Eco-Friendly Solutions: UV-curable coatings are typically low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), aligning with sustainability goals.

These benefits make Excimer technology an increasingly preferred choice among furniture manufacturers and designers striving for the perfect balance between beauty, functionality, and environmental responsibility.

Future Trends

As consumer expectations continue to evolve, the demand for Soft-Touch surfaces is expected to grow across both residential and commercial sectors. Ongoing innovations in coating formulations and Excimer lamp technologies promise to further improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and expand material compatibility. Additionally, integration with smart materials—such as coatings with self-healing properties or enhanced antimicrobial resistance—could unlock even broader applications for Soft-Touch (Excimer) coatings in the future.

Soft-Touch (Excimer) coatings represent a breakthrough in surface finishing technology, offering unmatched aesthetic and functional advantages. Their application in furniture and decorative materials delivers not only luxurious visual appeal but also an inviting tactile experience, setting new standards for modern interior design. As innovation continues, we can expect Soft-Touch (Excimer) technology to become a defining feature of next-generation furniture and decorative surfaces.