Cure degree estimation of photocurable coatings by DSC and differential photo-calorimetry

摘要

Radiation-curable coatings have acquired importance, because they are environmentally-friendly (no solvent emission) and require low energy for curing, when compared to other conventional heat-curable products. UV-curable coatings performance depends on the cure quality. Suitable methods were evaluated to estimate the degree of cure applying quantitative techniques, such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential photocalorimetry (DPC), in order to determine the residual heat of curing in UV-cured films. The results of the DPC technique showed better sensibility than DSC technique, although the use of suitable pans for the case of clear coats must be considered.