Caleb Foster
Oligomers are short chains of monomers that are a key ingredient in UV gels, giving them their basic properties such as shininess and rigidity. They are the backbone of gel chemistry and are used to create strong, durable gels with a glossy, hard finish. Oligomers are pre-formed and are crucial in determining the gel's working properties, including how they are removed. They are also used to solve common issues with traditional nail gel coatings, such as low gloss, colour drift, and premature chipping.
Characteristics and Values of Oligomers in Gel Nails
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Short chains of monomers |
| Base | Urethane acrylate |
| Properties | High viscosity, high hardness, low heat generation, non-yellowing, high-gloss, high strength, superior toughness and scratch resistance |
| Compatibility | UV/LED nail gels and coatings, topcoats, colour coats, base coats, soak-off gels |
| Removal | Easy removal by acetone |
| Curing | Requires UV/LED energy to cure |
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What You'll Learn
Oligomers are short chains of monomers
Oligomers are the backbone of gel chemistry. They offer superior toughness and scratch resistance, and play a crucial role in determining the gel's working properties, including how they are removed. Oligomers are used in gel nails to provide a glossy finish and toughness. The type of oligomer used will depend on the desired characteristics of the gel nail product. For example, soft gels or removable gels are an easy alternative to traditional hard gels as they can be soaked off in acetone.
The urethane acrylate oligomer base was chosen for gels when they were first introduced to the nail industry in the mid-1980s. This oligomer has a tight molecular structure, resulting in a lower molecular weight, meaning they feel lighter. This also makes them highly resistant to solvents, so they can't be soaked off and must be filed off for removal.
Oligomers are also used in nail gel coatings to solve common issues such as low gloss, colour drift, premature chipping, and regulatory compliance. Oligomers can provide a high-gloss finish with excellent durability, making the nail coatings look salon-fresh for longer. They can also aid in the formulation of long-lasting, non-yellowing soak-off nail gels.
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Oligomers are key ingredients in UV gels
The backbone of gel chemistry is the urethane acrylate oligomer. This oligomer is chosen for its tight molecular structure, resulting in a lower molecular weight, which makes the gel feel lighter. Urethane acrylate oligomers offer superior toughness and scratch resistance. They are the base for all gels and play a crucial role in determining the gel’s working properties, including how they are removed.
Oligomers are also used in gel polish applications to provide excellent acetone removability. They can also provide a low colour, tack-free cure under low-intensity LED cure conditions. Oligomers can be used in topcoats, colour coats, or base coats. They can also be used to create long-lasting, non-yellowing soak-off nail gel coatings.
Bomar oligomers, for example, are formulated to solve common issues with UV and LED-cured nail coatings, such as low gloss, colour drift, and premature chipping. They also provide excellent durability and a non-yellowing, high-gloss finish.
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Oligomers are cured with UV/LED energy
Oligomers are a key ingredient in UV gels, giving them their basic properties such as shininess and rigidity. They are short chains of monomers that are pre-linked and pre-mixed, which makes them quick to cure with a UV or LED lamp. Oligomers are cured with UV/LED energy to form gel nails.
UV gels give nail technicians unlimited working time prior to curing in a UV/LED lamp. They are tough and durable, so they are suitable for virtually any type of service, including natural nail overlay, tip and overlay, or sculpting on a form. They are also solvent-resistant, so they must be filed off for removal.
The curing process involves using UV or LED lights as an energy source for photo initiators (PI) to generate the free radicals for the curing process. Photo initiators cause polymerization, or the liquid gel to harden, and turn the oligomer into a cured gel. The three most important factors in UV and LED curing are the balance between the photo initiators and nail lamp, the intensity and spectrum of UV or LED light, and the duration of light exposure.
Bomar oligomers, for example, can be used to formulate LED-curable nail gel coatings that look salon-fresh for longer. They exhibit excellent durability and provide a non-yellowing, high-gloss finish. They also have faster cure times, lower heat generation during the cure, and reduced energy and maintenance costs associated with LED-curing equipment.
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Oligomers are tough and durable
Oligomers are short chains of monomers that are a key ingredient in UV gels, giving them their basic properties such as shininess and rigidity. The oligomer is the backbone of gel chemistry and is what makes gel nails tough and durable.
When gels were first introduced to the nail industry in the mid-1980s, the goal was to create a strong and durable enhancement with a glossy, hard finish. The urethane acrylate oligomer base was chosen to create these gels due to its tight molecular structure, resulting in a lower molecular weight, making the gels feel lighter. Oligomers are pre-formed chains of monomers that come pre-mixed, so there is no mix ratio to worry about. This also makes them quick to cure with a UV or LED lamp.
Oligomers offer superior toughness and scratch resistance and play a crucial role in determining the gel's working properties, including how they are removed. They are solvent-resistant and must be filed off for removal.
Bomar oligomers, for example, provide excellent durability and a non-yellowing, high-gloss finish. They also help to overcome common issues associated with traditional nail gel coatings, such as low gloss, colour drift, and premature chipping. Bomar oligomers are suitable for various nail gel coatings, including hard gels, soak-off gels, topcoats, colour coats, and base coats.
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Oligomers are resistant to solvents
Oligomers are molecules with intermediate molecular weight, consisting of a few monomer units. They are short chains of monomers and are a key ingredient in UV gels, giving them their basic properties, such as shininess and rigidity. Oligomers are used in coatings and play a crucial role in determining the working properties of gels, including how they are removed.
Oligomers with reactive groups can crosslink into the primary polymeric binder, preventing the oligomer from softening the applied coating. In high-solids coatings, reactive oligomers lower viscosity, raise the percentage of non-volatile materials, and increase the crosslink density, leading to better chemical and moisture resistance.
The type of oligomer used also influences solvent resistance. For example, urethane acrylate oligomers, which are commonly used in nail gels, offer superior toughness and scratch resistance. They are highly resistant to solvents, which means they cannot be soaked off and must be filed off for removal.
Oligomers are an essential component of UV gels, providing desirable physical and chemical properties, such as film hardness, flexibility, and chemical resistance. Their resistance to solvents, such as acetone, makes them long-lasting and durable.
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Frequently asked questions
Oligomers are short chains of monomers that are a key ingredient in UV gels, giving them their basic properties such as shininess and rigidity.
Hard gel is used to build and sculpt long nails and is also used to create top coat gel. It is non-porous and cannot be soaked off with solvents like acetone. Soft gel, on the other hand, is usually softer and thinner. It can be removed from the natural nail plate with acetone.
Oligomers are the backbone of gel chemistry. They offer superior toughness and scratch resistance, and play a crucial role in determining the gel's working properties, including how they are removed.
