The basic meaning of radiation curing is to use ultraviolet light (UV) or electron beam as an energy source to initiate a chemically active liquid formulation to achieve a rapid reaction curing process on the surface of the substrate. The industrial application of UV/EB curing provides an advanced processing method for material surface curing. The biggest advantage of this curing technology different from traditional technologies (such as thermal curing) is that radiation curing uses high-efficiency energy-ultraviolet light or electron beam as an initiation means to quickly achieve coating curing. According to experts from China Epoxy Resin Industry Association, due to its high efficiency and green characteristics, it is widely used.

     Both ultraviolet light and electron beams can be regarded as members of a large family of radiation. The difference is that ultraviolet light is a kind of electromagnetic radiation, while electron beams are accelerated high-energy electron streams. The commonly used 100-380nm ultraviolet region for radiation curing is subdivided into UV-C (100-280nm), UV-B (280-315nm) and UV-A (315-380nm). The UV light source used for radiation curing is generally a UV lamp excited by electrical energy. Electron beam is also a kind of radiation, it is a batch of accelerated electron flow, the particle energy is much higher than ultraviolet light, which can ionize the air, so high-energy electron beam can also be called ionizing radiation. Electron beam curing generally does not require a photoinitiator, can directly initiate chemical reactions, and has much greater penetrating power to substances than ultraviolet light. The device that produces the electron beam is called an electron accelerator. A scanning electron accelerator used in radiation curing, the basic principle of which is very similar to that used in household televisions. In the TV set, the accelerated electron flow scans the TV screen to obtain visual information, and the electron beam of the electron accelerator in the radiation curing scans the surface of the substrate to realize the curing process.

     Radiation curing is a new technology developed on the basis of existing science and technology, so it can be regarded as a complex formed by the common structure of multiple technologies, including radiation sources (UV and EB), raw materials, monomers and oligomerization substances, photoinitiators, various auxiliaries (such as pigments, additives), chemical formulations (coatings, inks, adhesives, etc.), substrates and coating devices, etc. Radiation curing can only exert its inherent vitality through the reasonable configuration of these technical elements. In fact, these technical elements have formed an interdependent market chain in the industrial process of radiation curing, and jointly ensure market competitiveness. Therefore, radiation curing itself is a systematic project. Experts from China Epoxy Resin Industry Association said that the "3E principle" promotes the development of radiation curing. The establishment and development of any high-tech, it seems that the "3E principle" must be followed. Therefore, the "3E principle" is radiation curing. Solidify the foundation and driving force for survival and development. The so-called "3E" refers to energy (Energy), ecology (Ecology) and economy (Economy).

     From the perspective of "energy", the energy consumption of radiation curing only needs to ensure that the active chemical formulation undergoes a polymerization and cross-linking reaction under the initiation of radiation, and the substrate does not need to be heated, so the energy consumption of UV curing is only the curing of conventional solvent-based coatings and inks. 1/5 of the EB curing energy consumption, only 1/100 of the conventional curing. In terms of "ecology", the active chemical formula used in radiation curing contains no or less volatile solvents, which is a zero-emission or low-emission technology, which is conducive to environmental protection. No carbon dioxide is produced, so radiation curing is often referred to as a "green technology". There are also advantages from the "economic" point of view. The radiation curing device is compact, the processing speed is fast, the site space is small, and the production efficiency is high. The process itself helps to improve product performance and reduce raw material consumption, all of which improve the competitiveness of the technology itself from the economic cost. .

     Compared with traditional curing technology, radiation curing has its own characteristics, such as room temperature curing, which is conducive to the processing of heat-sensitive materials; curing formula can be adjusted according to needs, which is conducive to improving the adaptability of the process and ensuring product performance (such as hardness, flexibility, etc.). , gloss, weather resistance, etc.); radiation curing is easy to implement flow operations, and the degree of automation is high. Experts from China Epoxy Resin Industry Association said that the unique technical advantages of radiation curing not only meet the requirements of the "3E principle", but also maintain the market competitiveness of traditional curing in the process of industrialization. High-speed growth: At present, the annual growth rate of emergency developed countries such as the United States, Japan and European countries is about 10%, and the growth rate of developing countries is even faster. The average annual growth rate of China can reach 25%.

     It is estimated that the current global market share of UV/EB curing chemical raw materials and formulations is only 3% of the total sales of industrial coatings (inks, coatings and adhesives), so the development prospects of radiation curing are promising. The dominant position in radiation curing is UV curing (about 90%), and the proportion of electron beam curing is still very small (about 10%) due to the high one-time investment of accelerator equipment. At present, radiation curing products have penetrated into all aspects of industrial production and daily life. According to experts from China Epoxy Resin Industry Association, they mainly include: coatings, optical discs, optical fibers, magnetic tapes, magnetic cards, high-end bags, photographic films, magazine covers, vacuum Metal plastics, cans, furniture veneers, laminates, wall panels, vinyl floor tiles and tiles, galvanized metal pipes and leather trim, etc.; inks, offset offset, letterpress, flexo, gravure and screen printing, etc.; Adhesives, automotive headlights, pressure-sensitive labels and transfer printing, electronic device packaging and encapsulation, medical plastic parts assembly, etc.; electronic devices, printed circuit board conformal coating, resist, solder resist, character ink, anti-light Dry film, protective coating, etc.; other, printing plates, medical devices, dental fillings, cosmetic boxes, spectacle lenses, golf balls, trophies, snowboards, snowmobiles, advertising signs and other coatings curing or decoration, and three-dimensional light casting processing.

     Although radiation curing has made great progress in the world, its industrialization process is not satisfactory, the main reason is that many technical achievements are still in the stage of pilot test and laboratory research. First of all, the main development direction of radiation curing is to continue to exert its advantages in the traditional manufacturing industry, and at the same time to enter the automotive and architectural decoration market - the world's largest coatings market, which requires the performance of radiation curing products to meet the standard of outdoor long-term weather resistance. Another development direction of radiation curing is to enter the emerging information industry, specifically, occupying positions in the fields of optical media, information systems and telecommunication. This is a whole-hearted field, and it is the vast world where UV/EB technology can display its own strengths.