Application of leds for UV-curing

Abstract

Curing resins by ultraviolet radiation from LEDs is an emerging field in a wide range of applications and offers many advantages compared to thermal polymerization, such as high reaction velocity, solvent-free formulations, low energy consumption, and the operation at ambient temperature. Due to additional benefits like the use of discrete wavelengths, lower heat emission, smaller dimensions, more flexible geometries and the comparatively very low power consumption, UV-LEDs were already proved as good alternatives for commonly used photocuring units based on established mercury-vapor bulbs. By individually adapting the interaction of chemicals, photoinitiators, formulation, and light source many distinct tailormade polymer formulations are developed for coatings, inks, adhesives, composites, and stereolithography.