OVERVIEW ON UV, EB & IR CURING.

Use of radiation in the form of infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), and electron beam (EB) is being used to accomplish routine curing of inks and coatings. IR is a thermal process but with the use of UV (electronic excitation) a photochemical reaction is employed. Since initiators are highly absorbent of the UV radiation and the oligomers and monomers are fairly transparent, the cure is inherently more energy efficient than IR. Energy transfer from the source (IR & UV) is achieved by photons whereas with EB an electron is used.