Guide to UV Measurement
Flood (Area) Curing
The simplest method of UV exposure is to place an object or surface under a UV lamp and control the time during which it is exposed. This is often referred to as "static" curing. It is frequently used for laboratory exposure or for low-volume production curing. Flood exposure is regularly used in film transfer and printing plate making.
However, when the surface is complex, or curved, or even "3D," it becomes more difficult to cover the surface in a linear fashion with focused high intensity UV. The illumination may be lower in intensity, as the energy is distributed over a larger area. By combining additional degrees of motion of the part, such as rotating while passing through the curing lamp region, a complex surface may be adequately cured. Further, lamps of various configurations are be used, depending on type and degree of motion, size and complexity of the surface contours.