Applications - Conformal Coating
Finding flaws with UV-light
UV-light is used in industry to determine if the surface of a component is thoroughly covered by conformal coatings, ie. transparent coating and lacquer.
Examples from the Swedish industry
Casco (Akzo Nobel) manufactures machinery for coating components with glue. For quality reasons they perform ocular surveillance by mixing a fluorescent
substance with the glue
and then UV-illuminating the surface of the glue coated object. Non-coated parts do not fluoresce. One or several Labino UV-lamps are fitted on each machine, depending on the size of the coated object and the amount of surrounding visible light.
Scania uses the same technique to determine if their truck chassis are completely coated with lacquer.
Ericsson uses Labino lamps on their production line for loud speakers, used in mobile phones. Since these parts are very small, they use a sensitive camera to detect non-coated areas.
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UV-CURING
Most adhesives are reactive polymers. They change from liquids to solids through various chemical polymerization reactions.
UV-lamps help you save time
UV is used to speed-up curing time. The adhesive and the UV-light source need to be coordinated for maximum effect. The demands on UV-curing are classified into three types of UV-curing systems:
For depth-curing, wavelengths between 300-400 nm give the best results,
i.e UV-A.
For surface-curing, which is important for gluing, sealing and filling, shorter wavelengths are required, i.e. below 300 nm.
Secondary curing systems are used when the UV radiation does not reach the entire glue-surface and include heat, activators, moisture and oxygen.
Benefits
- Labino UV-lamps emit UV-A and are therefore suitable for depth-curing. The method gives very short curing times to handling strength.
- Depth curing in seconds with low heat generation and energy consumption.
- Price versus performance is without comparison, compared to existing UV-curing systems.
INSPECTION OF CONFORMAL COATINGS
Finding flaws with UV-light
UV-light is used in industry to determine if the surface of a component is thoroughly covered by conformal coatings, ie. transparent coating, lacquer, etc.
Examples from the Swedish industry
Casco(Akzo Nobel) manufactures machinery for coating components with glue. For quality reasons they perform ocular surveillance by mixing a fluorescent
substance with the glue
and then UV-illuminating the surface of the glue coated object. Non-coated parts do not fluoresce. One or several Labino UV-lamps are fitted on each machine, depending on the size of the coated object and the amount of surrounding visible light.
Scania uses the same technique to determine if their truck chassis are completely coated with lacquer.
Ericsson uses Labino lamps on their production line for loud speakers, used in mobile phones. Since these parts are very small, they use a sensitive camera to detect non-coated areas.
Benefits
• The exceptional UV-irradiance of Labino products has greatly improved the results/speed of this application
PURITY CONTROL
Hygiene and UV-lamps
Certain materials and substances are fluorescent in nature when illuminated with UV-light.
Diary production
Due to health regulations, it is essential that the equipment used in dairy production, such as tubes and vessels, be cleaned on a regular basis. Some proteins found in milk and yogurt are fluorescent when illuminated with UV-light. By using the Labino UV-Spotlight, dairy manufacturers are able to discover not only if their equipment is clean but also where the left-over residue can be found.
Our Diary production customers use solely our UV-Spotlight as the fluorescent indications are only visible using the UV-Spotlight feature.
Sanitation
Another unexpected fluorescent substance is cat urine. Sanitation companies involved in the sanitation of apartments and private houses have recently discovered how effective it can be to use UV-light to illuminate the areas affected by cat urine. Instead of cleaning and repainting every room, only those areas that are covered in dry urine splash need to be treated, thereby saving the sanitation company both time and money. The UV-Spotlight is exclusively used in this application as it is the most effective lamp used in investigatory work performed during normal daylight conditions.
LIGHTING EFFECTS
Illumination with UV-light
In show business, UV-light (black light) is combined with fluorescent colors to create special lighting effects. These colors can be in the form of spray paint, make-up, colorful clothing, as well as special fluorescent liquid for mixing in water. The clever thing is that only the fluorescent material glows when UV-illuminated - everything else will remain dark or “dead”. This is a very effective way of highlighting small or large details on a dark stage, for example. In contrast, if white light (visible light) is used to highlight these small or large details, everything that is hit by the white light beam will be illuminated.
Lighting designers are typically well aware of how to use UV-light to create special lighting effects. In the past, using those UV-lamps available on the market, it has been problematic for lighting designers to achieve the special effects they desired. The reason for this is that the old models of UV-lamps needed to be positioned close to the fluorescent object(s) in question, without any surrounding visible light present, in order for the special effect to be successful.
New possibilites with UV-lamps
Labino UV-lamps present totally new possibilities for the world of entertainment. Our lamps deliver such concentrated UV-light (black light) that they can be mounted high above the stage or arena, where the normal white light lamps are mounted. This in turn enables lighting designers the possibility of creating extraordinary special effects.
Thanks to their light weight (2,3kg) and small size, Labino UV-lamps are also easy to mount and can be placed wherever the effect is optimized. As Labino UV-lamps are of industrial quality and IP65 approved, they can even be used outdoors. Labino lamps are currently used outside at several Disney Parks, for example.
In addition to offering unbeatable performance, the Labino UV-lamp also has a power consumption of only 44 Watts, which means that it generates very little heat.
VARIOUS PROJECTS
The Swedish organization Previa is responsible for continuously improving safety standards on construction sites. When subterranean work is done, such as the construction of tunnels, the intense white light that is used to illuminate the otherwise dark tunnel has been proven to affects the workers’ night vision. Previa has worked together with Sweden’s largest construction company, Skanska, on a test project, using Labino UV-lamps, to determine whether UV-light can be used as a complement to white light.
Skanska is also testing fluorescent asphalt surfaces in combination with black light, the aim being to illuminate temporary objects on the surface of the road, e.g. detour signs or similar.
When The Swedish Traffic Police set up roadside control sites, motorists occasionally complain that the officer in charge of stopping traffic is difficult to see at night. Tests have been conducted where a Labino UV-Spotlight is mounted on a mast by the side of the road, pointed at the police officer, who is wearing a fluorescent waistcoat or vest, substantially increasing his visibility. The officer operates the Spotlight with a remote control.
The Swedish Coast-Guard – Sea-Rescue uses UV-light to detect fluorescent lifeboats and life jackets. The Labino UV-Spotlight can be used at night for easier detection, without loss of night vision, as often is the case when using visible white light. Many standard life jackets and lifeboats are made of fluorescent materials.
The Swedish Forest Authorities are testing the possibilities of using fluorescent markings on trees and timber together with the Labino UV-Spotlight. The objective is to simplify identification, even in snowy conditions, of pre-marked trees and timber. The markings are also used at sawmills in order to optimize cutting. A sensitive camera is used to detect the markings and the timber is then positioned appropriately before cutting.
Please contact Labino if you have any further questions. We'd love to hear from you.
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