OPTIMIZING AND CONTROLLING UV SYSTEMS

摘要

The physical properties of UV-cured materials are substantially affected by the lamp systems used to cure them. The development of the intended properties, whether a varnish, an ink, or an adhesive, 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, time-integrated UV energy (or "dose "), and infra-red radiation. Inks and varnishes will exhibit very different response to peak irradiance, as well as to different UV spectra. Process design involves the identification of UV Exposure requirements and match them to the optical properties of the curable material. A wide variety of radiometric instruments is available for measuring the radiant characteristics of industrial and laboratory UV lamps. Relating these characteristics to the performance of a UV-cured product depends on how well the selected parameters match the critical factors of the cure process. Further, the distinction between process design and process monitoring is significant, especially in the characteristics to be measured. The difference in instruments and the reasons for these differences is followed by suggestions of how to avoid some common errors and to report data more completely. Optical terminology, specifications, methods, and how radiometric measures are used in system design and in production monitoring are presented.