CA1135214A - Method of curing photosensitive resin layers - Google Patents
Method of curing photosensitive resin layersInfo
- Publication number
- CA1135214A CA1135214A CA000361252A CA361252A CA1135214A CA 1135214 A CA1135214 A CA 1135214A CA 000361252 A CA000361252 A CA 000361252A CA 361252 A CA361252 A CA 361252A CA 1135214 A CA1135214 A CA 1135214A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- discharge lamp
- photosensitive resin
- flash discharge
- curing
- thickness
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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- Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Photosensitive resins used in photoengraving materials, printing ink, coating compositions, adhesives and other materials are cured to form satisfactory dry layers by using, as the ultra-violet light source, a flash discharge lamp which is a cold light source capable of instantly producing the total amount of light required, in which the emission energy J (joule) is controlled within the range of 0.02 ? J/S ? 8 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated, or within the range of 0.002 ? J/Sd ? 2 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated and d (µm) stands for the thickness of the photosensitive resin layer after curing.
Photosensitive resins used in photoengraving materials, printing ink, coating compositions, adhesives and other materials are cured to form satisfactory dry layers by using, as the ultra-violet light source, a flash discharge lamp which is a cold light source capable of instantly producing the total amount of light required, in which the emission energy J (joule) is controlled within the range of 0.02 ? J/S ? 8 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated, or within the range of 0.002 ? J/Sd ? 2 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated and d (µm) stands for the thickness of the photosensitive resin layer after curing.
Description
s~
BACKGROUND OF T~IE INVENTION
Field of the Invention -The present invention relates to a method of curing photosensitive resin layers, and more particularly relates to a method of curing photosensitive resin layers with the ultraviolet light produced by a flash discharge lamp Description of the Prior Art Only a little over ten years have passed since attention was first drawn to the photosensitive resins. Ho~ever, their uses have been remarkably extended as a result of succeeding developmental efforts, starting from the initial application to photoengraving materlals and now including printing ink, coating compositions, adhesives and other industrial product They are used in the form of sheets, film, patterns, and letter, and are cured from the liquid into the solid state through irradiation of ultraviolet light. Chemically, this process is photopolymerization of low molecular weight substances induced by ultraviolet light, but is sometimes called "drylng"
in the paint and printing ink fields.
Conventionally a mercury discharge lamp, or a mixed-metal-vapor discharge lamp, a modification of the mercury discharge lamp in which part of the mercury is replaced by other metals, has been used as the W-light source However, `'' "
~ ~ 5 ~1 ~
these lamps suf~er from the following disadvantages:
(1) It generally several minutes; several tens of seconds even with the most advanced type; to generate the tQtal amount of ~ight designed after starting the lamp. This results in poor operation efficiency.
BACKGROUND OF T~IE INVENTION
Field of the Invention -The present invention relates to a method of curing photosensitive resin layers, and more particularly relates to a method of curing photosensitive resin layers with the ultraviolet light produced by a flash discharge lamp Description of the Prior Art Only a little over ten years have passed since attention was first drawn to the photosensitive resins. Ho~ever, their uses have been remarkably extended as a result of succeeding developmental efforts, starting from the initial application to photoengraving materlals and now including printing ink, coating compositions, adhesives and other industrial product They are used in the form of sheets, film, patterns, and letter, and are cured from the liquid into the solid state through irradiation of ultraviolet light. Chemically, this process is photopolymerization of low molecular weight substances induced by ultraviolet light, but is sometimes called "drylng"
in the paint and printing ink fields.
Conventionally a mercury discharge lamp, or a mixed-metal-vapor discharge lamp, a modification of the mercury discharge lamp in which part of the mercury is replaced by other metals, has been used as the W-light source However, `'' "
~ ~ 5 ~1 ~
these lamps suf~er from the following disadvantages:
(1) It generally several minutes; several tens of seconds even with the most advanced type; to generate the tQtal amount of ~ight designed after starting the lamp. This results in poor operation efficiency.
(2) It is known that, to overcone this difficulty, the lamp is housed in a casing provided with a shutter and curing is carried out by intermittent opening of the shutter. However, the ccmplicated structure of the casing, its troublesome handling, and unnecessary consumption of power are the disadvantages involved in this method.
(3) In order to efficiently emit the light of the wave-length region which is effective for photopolymerization, the bulb wall must always be maintained at high temperatures to ensure a high vapor pressure of the metal at all times. As a result, the life of the bulb is liable to be shortO Also, because of the large amount of heat produced, combined with the longer irradiation time required, sharp reproduction of images may be affected physically, or by a thermochemical reaction which proceeds concurrently with the photochemical reaction, in the case of letters and patterns which are composed of fine lines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
_ .. . . _ .
The object of the present invention is to offer a novel method of curing photosensitive resin layers which is free from the disadvantages mentioned above The present invention .
~ 3~ Z~ ~
relates to a method vf curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photosensitive peak in the wavelength -region not more than 4500A to form solid layers having a thickness of 100 microns or less, by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.02 < J/S < 8 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated; and a method of curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photo-sensitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500A to form solid layers having a thickness of more than 100 microns,-by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.002 ~ J/Sd ~ 2 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irrad.iated and d (micron~
stands for the thickness of the photosensitive resin layer after curing.
In short, the present invention consists in using, as the source of ultraviolet light, a flash discharge lamp which is a cold light source capable of instantly producing the total , . .
~3~Z~4 designed amount of light, and in reasonably controlling the emission energy of that flash discharge lamp. -Flash discharge lamps have been used for various industrial purposes. However, it was revealed that they can be used successfully as a means of curing photosensitive resin-layers, as offered in the present invention, only under specific con-ditions, for which a detailed and comprehensive investigation was needed. The present invention has been accomplished as a result of this investigation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an apparatus for the method of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schemativ view illustrating the configuration of a flash discharge lamp ~lsed in the present invention and the power supply circuit.
DESCRIPTION OF _HE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodyment of the present invention in which an ink layer 2 preinted on an acrylic plate 1 to a thickness of about 20 microns in cured by means of a flash discharge lamp 4 with a mirror 3 equipped adjacent thereto.
Fig. 2 illustrates a preferred configuration of said flash discharge lamp 4 and the power supply circuit connected thereto.
Numeral 3' shows the support frame for an internal reflective ~ 4 ~
' , . . .
! ' ' , , ' . . .
' . ' ~1 ~ 5 2i ~
surface to efficiently guide the flash light to the articl~ -being irradiated with a minimum of loss, numeral 5 is a glass bulb, numeral 6 is a metal cap to seal both ends of the bulb airtight~ numeral 7 is a cathode, numeral 8 is an anode, L is the discharge distance, and D is the inside diameter of the bulb. The power supply circuit to start the flash discharge lamp 4 comprises high voltage generator HV connected through charging resistor R, discharging capacitor C and trigger switch SWs and trigger electrode 9 connected to said high voltage generator ~V. If trigger switch SW is closed to apply a high electric potential to the flash discharge lamp and to ionize the gas filled in the bulb, the electric charge accumulated in the discharging capacitor will be discharge, causing the lams to emit flash light.
Ink 2 is an offset printing ink having the main photosen-sitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500A, for example, "Toka UV-Cure BF" (Toka Shikiso Kagaku Kogyo). This ink anc be instantly cured by irradiation of ultraviolet light from the fIash discharge lamp without any adverse thermal effect.
In an example, an ink layer coated over the area of S = lOcm x 20cm to a thickness (d) of about 20 microns was instantly cured to give satisfactory solid film when irradiated under the following conditions: discharge distance L = 26cm, inside diameter of bulb D = 0.8cm, xenon gas charge pressure = 200mmHg, emission energy J = 800 joules (to give an energy radiation density Q of 20.4), and t = 3msec. A number of flash discharge lamps having ~ 3 ~
different bulb diameters of at least 0.3cm and ~liff~rent discharge distances of at least 3cm were fabricated, and their glass bulbs were filled wlth xenon, other rare gases or a mixture thereof. Similar experiments as above were conducted using these lamps with dlfferent J values. It was demonstrated from these experiments that, if the value J/S is less than 0.02, part of the resin layer ls left uncured. If the value J/S is larger than 8, on the other hand, degradation occurs on the surface of the cured film The former trouble may be ascribed to insuf-ficient do~e of ultraviolet light, while the latter may be con-sidered to be a deteriorated surface appearance due to thermal degradation often encountered in p astic materials. In any event, satisfactory results can be achieved only within the range of 0.02 ' J/S '- 8.
Other factors considered were the thickness of the ink layer and the distance between the flash discharge lamp and the ink layer. Experiments revealed that the thickness of the ink layer has no effect on the result for levels not larger than 100 microns; the distance between the lamp and the ink layer was found to have no effect within the range of 5cm to 25cm, if the support frame is provided.
In another serles of experiments in which the value of S x d, that is, the quantity or the volume of the ink present on a given area, was varied, it was demonstrated that, if the .. , , .
., ; - .
SZl~
value J/Sd is less than 0.002, part of the resin layer is lef~
uncured. If this value exceeds 2, on the other hand, degra-dation occ~rs on the surface of the cured film. The former trouble may be attributed to insufficient dose of ultraviolet light, while the latter is considered to be a deteriorated surface appearance due to themal degradation often encountered in plastic materials. In this case, too, satisfactory results can be achieved only within a definite range of dose, 0.002 -' J/Sd ~ 2.
The effect of the amount of ink was investigated because of the findings that curing is influenced by the thickness of ink (which defines the amount of ink present on a given area) when it exceeds 100 microns. It was found that the distance between the lamp and the ink layer has no effect even for the larger ink thicknesses.
As is apparent from the above, the present invention relates to a method of curing photosensitive resin layers to give satisfactory solid film free from disadvantages unavoidable in conventional method, by using, as the source of ultraviolet light, a flash discharge lamp which is a cold light source capable of instantly producing the total designed amount of light and by reasonably controlling the emission energy generated from that flash dischage lamp, and is highly valuable in practical applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
_ .. . . _ .
The object of the present invention is to offer a novel method of curing photosensitive resin layers which is free from the disadvantages mentioned above The present invention .
~ 3~ Z~ ~
relates to a method vf curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photosensitive peak in the wavelength -region not more than 4500A to form solid layers having a thickness of 100 microns or less, by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.02 < J/S < 8 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated; and a method of curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photo-sensitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500A to form solid layers having a thickness of more than 100 microns,-by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.002 ~ J/Sd ~ 2 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irrad.iated and d (micron~
stands for the thickness of the photosensitive resin layer after curing.
In short, the present invention consists in using, as the source of ultraviolet light, a flash discharge lamp which is a cold light source capable of instantly producing the total , . .
~3~Z~4 designed amount of light, and in reasonably controlling the emission energy of that flash discharge lamp. -Flash discharge lamps have been used for various industrial purposes. However, it was revealed that they can be used successfully as a means of curing photosensitive resin-layers, as offered in the present invention, only under specific con-ditions, for which a detailed and comprehensive investigation was needed. The present invention has been accomplished as a result of this investigation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an apparatus for the method of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schemativ view illustrating the configuration of a flash discharge lamp ~lsed in the present invention and the power supply circuit.
DESCRIPTION OF _HE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodyment of the present invention in which an ink layer 2 preinted on an acrylic plate 1 to a thickness of about 20 microns in cured by means of a flash discharge lamp 4 with a mirror 3 equipped adjacent thereto.
Fig. 2 illustrates a preferred configuration of said flash discharge lamp 4 and the power supply circuit connected thereto.
Numeral 3' shows the support frame for an internal reflective ~ 4 ~
' , . . .
! ' ' , , ' . . .
' . ' ~1 ~ 5 2i ~
surface to efficiently guide the flash light to the articl~ -being irradiated with a minimum of loss, numeral 5 is a glass bulb, numeral 6 is a metal cap to seal both ends of the bulb airtight~ numeral 7 is a cathode, numeral 8 is an anode, L is the discharge distance, and D is the inside diameter of the bulb. The power supply circuit to start the flash discharge lamp 4 comprises high voltage generator HV connected through charging resistor R, discharging capacitor C and trigger switch SWs and trigger electrode 9 connected to said high voltage generator ~V. If trigger switch SW is closed to apply a high electric potential to the flash discharge lamp and to ionize the gas filled in the bulb, the electric charge accumulated in the discharging capacitor will be discharge, causing the lams to emit flash light.
Ink 2 is an offset printing ink having the main photosen-sitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500A, for example, "Toka UV-Cure BF" (Toka Shikiso Kagaku Kogyo). This ink anc be instantly cured by irradiation of ultraviolet light from the fIash discharge lamp without any adverse thermal effect.
In an example, an ink layer coated over the area of S = lOcm x 20cm to a thickness (d) of about 20 microns was instantly cured to give satisfactory solid film when irradiated under the following conditions: discharge distance L = 26cm, inside diameter of bulb D = 0.8cm, xenon gas charge pressure = 200mmHg, emission energy J = 800 joules (to give an energy radiation density Q of 20.4), and t = 3msec. A number of flash discharge lamps having ~ 3 ~
different bulb diameters of at least 0.3cm and ~liff~rent discharge distances of at least 3cm were fabricated, and their glass bulbs were filled wlth xenon, other rare gases or a mixture thereof. Similar experiments as above were conducted using these lamps with dlfferent J values. It was demonstrated from these experiments that, if the value J/S is less than 0.02, part of the resin layer ls left uncured. If the value J/S is larger than 8, on the other hand, degradation occurs on the surface of the cured film The former trouble may be ascribed to insuf-ficient do~e of ultraviolet light, while the latter may be con-sidered to be a deteriorated surface appearance due to thermal degradation often encountered in p astic materials. In any event, satisfactory results can be achieved only within the range of 0.02 ' J/S '- 8.
Other factors considered were the thickness of the ink layer and the distance between the flash discharge lamp and the ink layer. Experiments revealed that the thickness of the ink layer has no effect on the result for levels not larger than 100 microns; the distance between the lamp and the ink layer was found to have no effect within the range of 5cm to 25cm, if the support frame is provided.
In another serles of experiments in which the value of S x d, that is, the quantity or the volume of the ink present on a given area, was varied, it was demonstrated that, if the .. , , .
., ; - .
SZl~
value J/Sd is less than 0.002, part of the resin layer is lef~
uncured. If this value exceeds 2, on the other hand, degra-dation occ~rs on the surface of the cured film. The former trouble may be attributed to insufficient dose of ultraviolet light, while the latter is considered to be a deteriorated surface appearance due to themal degradation often encountered in plastic materials. In this case, too, satisfactory results can be achieved only within a definite range of dose, 0.002 -' J/Sd ~ 2.
The effect of the amount of ink was investigated because of the findings that curing is influenced by the thickness of ink (which defines the amount of ink present on a given area) when it exceeds 100 microns. It was found that the distance between the lamp and the ink layer has no effect even for the larger ink thicknesses.
As is apparent from the above, the present invention relates to a method of curing photosensitive resin layers to give satisfactory solid film free from disadvantages unavoidable in conventional method, by using, as the source of ultraviolet light, a flash discharge lamp which is a cold light source capable of instantly producing the total designed amount of light and by reasonably controlling the emission energy generated from that flash dischage lamp, and is highly valuable in practical applications.
Claims
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
A method of curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photosensitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500.ANG. to form solid layers having a thickness of 100 microns or less, by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.02 ? J/S ? 8 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated; and a method of curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photosen-sitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500.ANG. to form solid layers having a thickness of more than 100 microns, by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.002 ? J/Sd ? 2 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated and d (micron) stands for the thickness of the photosensitive resin layer after curing.
A method of curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photosensitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500.ANG. to form solid layers having a thickness of 100 microns or less, by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.02 ? J/S ? 8 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated; and a method of curing photosensitive resin layers having the main photosen-sitive peak in the wavelength region not more than 4500.ANG. to form solid layers having a thickness of more than 100 microns, by using a flash discharge lamp with its glass bulb filled with a rare gas as the main component, the emission energy J (joule) generated from said flash discharge lamp being controlled within the range of 0.002 ? J/Sd ? 2 wherein S (cm2) denotes the area to be irradiated and d (micron) stands for the thickness of the photosensitive resin layer after curing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000361252A CA1135214A (en) | 1980-09-30 | 1980-09-30 | Method of curing photosensitive resin layers |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000361252A CA1135214A (en) | 1980-09-30 | 1980-09-30 | Method of curing photosensitive resin layers |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1135214A true CA1135214A (en) | 1982-11-09 |
Family
ID=4118014
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000361252A Expired CA1135214A (en) | 1980-09-30 | 1980-09-30 | Method of curing photosensitive resin layers |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1135214A (en) |
-
1980
- 1980-09-30 CA CA000361252A patent/CA1135214A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |