Generally ready-to-use acrylic varnishes for industrial use, water- or solvent-based. The main advantages in using UV-dried varnishes are: high production speeds, space saving in the manufacturing area, coatings with very long or unlimited pot life, low or zero solvent emissions into the air, and coated items that are ready to pack at the end of the production process.
Light is an electromagnetic wave. It’s just one component of the full range of radiation that goes from radio waves to gamma radiation, on the electromagnetic spectrum. Within the electromagnetic spectrum, only a very small portion belongs to the visible spectrum and another to the ultraviolet spectrum. The portion of radiation involved in the polymerization of varnishes is within this ultraviolet spectrum. Ultraviolet is the name given to a range of the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 100 and 400 nm, sitting between the visible spectrum and X-rays. Some substances actually absorb a great amount of UV, emitting other longer wavelength radiation, generally in the visible range. In the curing of varnishes, UV radiation is absorbed by special substances called photo initiators, which absorb UV ray energy, triggering a chain reaction within the varnish and allowing for a very fast polymerization process.
