IEE Colloquium on Radiation Cured Industrial Processes - an Update (Digest No.1996/183)

Since first being introduced to the UK in the 1970´s, radiation curing technology has been developed and refined greatly into a very wide number of processes and applications. This colloquium provides an update on the still growing usage of process curing methods using different types of non-ionising radiation, such as intense ultraviolet light or electron beam energy. Many industrial processes require energy for them to become dry or to harden (polymerise) or to be modified in some way, in either a continuous or a spontaneous manner. Examples are inks, coatings and surface finishes, adhesives and thin film materials treatments. With new environmental legislation, there is a drive away from `traditional´ solvent based processes towards these newer, cleaner methods with little or no residues or release of volatile organic compounds. Many other advantages can be found in these methods, helped by innovations in equipment, instrumentation and chemical engineering. The colloquium also provides an overview and update on the state of the high growth radiation cured process industries in UK, Europe and USA, with some indication of future trends