《UV Curing Technical principle and mechanism》.pdf

Ciba Specialty Chemicals UV Curing Technical principle and mechanism Coating Effects Value beyond chemistry UV Curing, Technical principle and mechanism Ciba Specialty Chemicals 2004 UV Curing, an Overview A single technology – UltraViolet Curing – is used to Unique Physical Properties improve the quality of finished products while UV curing is recognized as an “enhancement tech- boosting productivity through substantial savings nology,” one that allows manufacturers to make in energy, time and labor. In the UV curing process, their products more attractive and durable. Fin- ultraviolet light interacts with specially formulated ished products exhibit exceptional stain, abrasion and chemistries to cure coatings faster and more eco- solvent resistance coupled with superior toughness. nomically than traditional methods. UV curing was Moreover, UV curing allows the printing and ink in- developed more than 30 years ago especially for dustries to achieve the highest gloss attainable by the printing, packaging, electronic and wood prod- any coating method. ucts industries. Today, the UV curing industry is well positioned to shape coatings, ink and polymer technologies as we enter the 21st century. Initially a commercial success in the wood products and fur- niture industries, UV curing is used today in a diverse number of industries. In the automotive industry, for example, these tech- nologies are getting more and more common. Fin- ished product manufacturers find that UV curing of- fers at least three outstanding benefits: environmental advantages, unique physical properties and pro- duction efficiencies. Environmental Advantages UV cured inks, coatings and adhesives have always contained very low l