EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOR UV PROCESSING KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS OF EQUIPMENT FOR UV CURING

摘要

UV curing, the process of photoinitiated conversion of polymeric materials from a liquid to a solid, is a popular alternative to conventional drying. UV Curing is highly adaptable to adhesives and PSA's owing to some of its key attributes; it is (1) solventless, (2)low-temperature, (3) high speed, and (4) energy-efficient. The physical properties of UV-cured materials are substantially affected by the lamp systems used to cure them. The development of the intended properties can depend on how well these lamp factors are designed and managed. The four key factors of UV lamps are: UV irradiance (or intensity), spectral distribution (wavelengths) of UV, UV energy (sometimes referred to as "dose"), and infra-red radiation. Inks and varnishes will exhibit very different response to peak irradiance or energy, as well as to different UV spectra. The ability to identify the various lamp characteristics and match them to the optical properties of the curable materials, widens the range in which UV curing is a faster, more efficient production process. This paper explores these factors and methods of applying them for process optimization.