For
many years, only medium or high pressure UVA (365nm) curing was available to
cure free radical UV inks. In the last
few years, however, low pressure UVC (254nm) curing has been increasingly used
to cure “cationic” based UV inks, coatings, lacquers, and resins.
Since low pressure lamps can operate with much less power than medium or high pressure lamps, they are perfect for applications that require dimming [40%, 60% or 80% of full power]. Both low pressure mercury lamps and amalgam lamps produce UVC (254nm); however, there is a growing trend for using amalgam lamps due to their speed and efficiency in the drying of cationic based UV inks, coatings and resins.
Before amalgam lamps, low pressure UV curing lamps produced outputs only up to 150 watts. Using more current would cause the lamp to overheat, lose mercury vapor pressure and the result was a severe drop-off in output. An amalgam lamp can produce an output of 200 to 1000 watts, one-third of which is usable UVC (254nm) energy. Amalgam lamps offer the ability to downsize the system while maintaining maximum speed and efficiency for UV curing.
Since low pressure lamps can operate with much less power than medium or high pressure lamps, they are perfect for applications that require dimming [40%, 60% or 80% of full power]. Both low pressure mercury lamps and amalgam lamps produce UVC (254nm); however, there is a growing trend for using amalgam lamps due to their speed and efficiency in the drying of cationic based UV inks, coatings and resins.
Before amalgam lamps, low pressure UV curing lamps produced outputs only up to 150 watts. Using more current would cause the lamp to overheat, lose mercury vapor pressure and the result was a severe drop-off in output. An amalgam lamp can produce an output of 200 to 1000 watts, one-third of which is usable UVC (254nm) energy. Amalgam lamps offer the ability to downsize the system while maintaining maximum speed and efficiency for UV curing.
Of
course, low pressure amalgam lamp UVC (254nm) curing is not the best technology
for every UV ink curing application.
But, if your application performance properties match up with the chart
criteria below, then it is right for you!
|
Performance
Properties
|
Medium or High
Pressure
Traditional Free
Radical
UVA (365nm) Ink
Curing
|
Low Pressure
Amalgam
New Cationic
UVC (254nm) Ink
Curing
|
|
Cure
Energy Required
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Adhesion
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
|
Flexibility
|
Poor
|
Fair
|
|
Abrasion
Resistance
|
Okay
|
Good
|
|
Chemical
Resistance
|
Okay
|
Good
|
|
Environmental
Durability
|
Okay
|
Excellent
|
|
Color
Gamut
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
|
Opacity
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Moreover,
low pressure UVC (254nm) curing systems produce no hazardous byproducts and have a lower operating cost than free
radical UVA (365nm) curing and heat-based curing systems.
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