Equipment needs for UV curing
Even if the radiation-cured coatings present many advantages and are applicable to a wide range of product, it's progress is slow down by the high materials cost and capital investment required.
Typical UV equipment consists of:
1. Lamp (or bulb): the electrical energy supplied to the bulb is converted into UV energy inside it
- Type of lamp (electrode/ electrodeless/ pulsed/ spot)
- Spectral output of lamp ("H"/"D"/"V")
- Length of lamps (long lamps tend to sag)
- Reflector (elliptical/ parabolic/ dichroic)
- Focused/unfocused reflectors
- UV lamp output (200 to 600 watts/inch) (H bulb emits fewer photons than a D bulb at the same watt/inch rating
- Curing atmosphere (N2/ ambient/dry air)
- Required UV exposure (dwell time)
- Acceptable window of equipment operation
2. Lamp housing: reflects and focuses the UV energy generated by the lamp (delivers the UV to the substrate)
Back to FAQ page.