UVP Benchtop Curing System - Manual (Page 3)

Lower number of processing and handling procedures provide labor savings. Printed matter is ready for
cutting and folding after UV processing. Wood and particleboard panels can be stacked and processed
immediately. UV curing lamps, placed between stations in multi-color offset printing, cure one color before
next color is applied, eliminating color bleed, scratches, scuffs, etc. Controlled temperature can be obtained
where UV curing is used on heat sensitive substrates.
Rate or speed of UV curing is affected by the following:
• UV curable compounds vary in composition. The type and amount of sensitizer, type and amount of
pigment, etc. used in UV curable formulations will dictate UV curing speed.
• UV curing time is not directly proportional to coating thickness. A two-fold thickness requires 10 times the
radiation energy of a single thickness. UV energy received inside a layer of coating decreases exponen-
tially with depth.
• UV curing time will rise with the increase of UV energy per unit surface, up to the saturation point. This is
not linear. The curing rate of most monomers, in the presence of air, at a rate greater than the increase
in UV energy per unit surface. If the amount of UV energy per unit surface is doubled, curing speed may
be tripled, quadrupled, or even rise ten-fold.
Two lamps of even power will not cause a cure as quickly as one UV lamp with twice the radiation power.
One lamp with twice the power doubles the energy radiated to the same surface and curing speed will
double. UV curing lamps with the highest power-to-size ratio should be sued. The non-linear relation
between curing rate and UV energy dictates the UV processor reflector design. Focused reflectors,
incorporated in UVP, Inc. processors, concentrate the UV energy on a small surface, rather than a
uniform distribution over a larger surface.
• Various UV sensitizers require different ranges of UV wavelength for proper reaction. Sensitizers should
react to UV in a range other than those absorbed by the monomer or pigment. UVP, Inc. medium pres-
sure Mercury lamps emit UV (180nm to 420nm), suitable for all UV curing applications.
BENCHTOP CURING SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS
UVP processors consist of the following:
1. High Intensity UV Source (Lamp)
2. Irradiators (Lamp Housing and Reflector Assembly)
3. Shielding, Cooling, and Safety Equipment
4. Power Supply and Electrical Controls
Technical Data
• Length: 30”, width: 24”, • Elliptical focused heat sink reflector
height: 18”, weight 100 lbs. • 6”, 300W/inch curing lamp
• Central located exhaust fan • Nomex-coated fiberglass belt
• Optical shielding • Vacuum hold-down
• 1-100 FPM variable speed control • Tri-power lamp switching (300, 200, 125W/inch)
with FPM indicator • 8’, 14/3 grounded electric cord
• Elasped-time indicator
BC-300 Benchtop UV Curing System
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