What is EBC?
We constantly hear the term “EBC” when we talk about our chemically resistant laboratory top product, maiLab Chem. So, what does EBC stand for?
Electron Beam curing (EBC) is one of the most powerful industrial curing technologies commercially available today. The specialty of EBC is the ability of the EBC to penetrate the surface to fully cure and close the surface of the very thick, multiple Acrylic coating layers, which makes it possible for the high chemical resistance surface of maiLab Chem, characterized by high performance surface finish.
Maica’s maiLab Chem utilizes the advantages of the EBC technology with acrylic resin. maiLab Chem has not a single, but double-coating of acrylic combination for better surface performance, reduced VOCs and low carbon footprint since the EBC process does not produce CO2. maiLab Chem’s EBC surface layer is combined with phenolic treated virgin-pulp kraft paper, processed under high temperature and high pressure to ensure compliance with the EN438 standards for its physical properties. The process requires special calibration to the temperature, pressure and duration of production. The end result is maiLab Chem with a flat surface, complete with chemical resistance suitable for professional laboratory use.
The careful planning and processes for the production of maiLab Chem at Maica results in a product that has been tested and certified for compliance for the following properties.
|Quality Standards / Certificate||Properties / Attributes|
|European Standard EN438||Physical endurance based on the EN438 Part 4, as maiLab Chem has a built-up similar to that of a compact laminate with the exception of an EBC chemical resistant product surface.
The EN438 also includes the criteria for “Surface Flatness”. The careful control of temperature, pressure and duration of the production, coupled with the EBC cured surface and virgin-pulp phenolic resin impregnated kraft paper ensures the compliance for maiLab Chem with high stability and flatness value.
|GREENGUARD / GREENGUARD GOLD||Low VOC emission, due to the use of the acrylic resin and the EBC process, making the product suitable for indoor applications such as closed-laboratory environment.|
|Singapore Green Label||An ecolabel certificate testifying the use of sustainable materials made from virgin-pulp.|
|SEFA 8 and Selected 91 Chemicals Tests||A most important attribute of the product for its chemical resistance, maiLab Chem has been tested for 91 most common chemicals used in laboratories worldwide, including the 49 chemicals specified by SEFA. All tests are done for a duration of 24 hours by third-party internationally accredited laboratory, TUV SUV PSB Laboratory in Singapore.|
|Termite Resistance||Termites thrive in an environment where microbes are present. These microbes help to break down the cellulose of wood materials into food sources that can be digested by termites.
maiLab Chem is a product of high heat and high pressure, with a high density of at least 1.35g/cm3. There is no air pocket or moisture trap in the product core, making it a non-conducive environment for microbes, especially fungi, to grow. The absence of these microbes makes maiLab Chem unattractive for the survival of even the most dangerous termite for buildings, the Subterranean termite.
Table 1: Properties and attributes of maiLab Chem