The present invention provides ultraviolet (UV) curable powders for powder coatings
comprising one or more than one free radical curable epoxy resin and one or more
than one second free radical curable resin, or, alternatively, one or more than
one free radical curable unsaturated polyester resin in combination with one or
more than one wax, and one or more than one free radical photoinitiator, wherein
the coating powder has an average particle size of 5 to 25 microns. Further, the
present invention provides a method for making a powder for thin (1.0 to 4.0 mil),
smooth coatings having an average particle size of from 5 to 25 microns, the method
preferably comprising jet milling dry powder or spray drying an aqueous emulsion,
fluid mixture, or a supercritical suspension of a powder or of the composition
for making the powder. Still further, the present invention provides a method of
making a powder coating comprising applying the powder to a substrate, preferably
hardwood, heat fusing the applied powder, and UV curing at a temperature and for
an amount of time sufficient to form a powder coating having a low gloss finish.
