Real-Time Monitoring of Ultrafast Curing by UV-Radiation and Laser Beams

An original technique, real-time infrared (RTIR) spectroscopy, has been developed to analyse in situ UV curing reactions occurring in a fraction of a second. Cure profiles were directly recorded and the important kinetic parameters were determined quantitatively. The effect of various factors such as chemical composition, film thickness, light-intensity, oxygen concentration was examined for multiacrylic systems exposed to intense UV radiation and laser beams. A comparison with alternative methods show the unique advantages of RTIR spectroscopy for a reliable study of
the ultrafast processes taking place in radiation-curable coatings.