Abstract Process and apparatus for polymerizing oxygen-inhibited ultraviolet photopolymerizable resin-forming material such as a film is shown. The apparatus comprises a pair of U.V. light sources, one being a flash photolysis source, the other a sustained photolysis source, both disposed for irradiating said mass as it abides in an atmosphere such as air which tends to inhibit such polymerization. The process has two essential phases, a superficial phase and a profound phase, performed simultaneously or one in advance of and as preparation for the other. The profound phase is performed with sustained irradiation effective for substantially completely polymerizing said material except for inhibition of polymerization at the surface thereof due to said atmosphere. The superficial phase is performed with flash irradiation effective for forming a tack-free skin over said material. Said skin helps to protect the less fully polymerized material therebelow from oxygen inhibition when such superficial phase is performed first or simultaneously with the other phase. When such superficial phase is performed after the profound phase, said superficial phase acts to complete polymerization of said material throughout its thickness.
In a process for ultraviolet curing of an ultraviolet photopolymerizable paint film disposed within an air inhibiting atmosphere, said paint film being irradiated with ultraviolet energy, the improvement comprising: irradiating said paint film with a pulsed photolysis light emitting flashing ultraviolet light to superficially cure the paint film and form a tack-free surface on the paint film; and irradiating said paint film with a sustained photolysis light emitting substantially continuous ultraviolet light to profoundly cure said paint film and completely photopolymerize the paint film other than the film surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a process for ultraviolet curing of an ultraviolet photopolymerizable paint film disposed within an air inhibiting atmosphere, said paint film being irradiated with ultraviolet energy, the improvement comprising: irradiating said paint film with a pulsed photolysis light emitting flashing ultraviolet light to superficially cure the paint film and form a tack-free surface on the paint film; and irradiating said paint film with a sustained photolysis light emitting substantially continuous ultraviolet light to profoundly cure said paint film and completely photopolymerize the paint film other than the film surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process in claim 1 wherein said material is irradiated simultaneously by said pulsed irradiation and said sustained irradiation.