The world’s largest event dedicated to the educational, technical, and scientific advancement of ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) technologies.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM :: Tuesday, May 21

Short Courses
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
IUVA Program
Exhibit Theater
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
7:00 – 7:45 AM

Introduction to the Basics of UV/EB Curing*

Dr. Mike J. Idacavage, Radical Curing, LLC

*Open to all attendees

8:00 – 10:00 AM

4A: Batteries I

UV/EB Technology for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Marcus Hutchins, allnex
Is UV/EB the Answer to the EV Question? (It’s All About Energy!)
Michael Bonner, Saint Clair Systems
A New Class of UV Curable Binders for Li-Ion Battery Applications
Gary Sigel, Miltec UV

4B: Photoinitiator I

New Photoinitiators with acrylate moiety
Kenji Kikuta, Osaka Organic Chemical
Towards a TPO alternative
Michael Kiehnel, BCH
Cationic Photoinitiator for LED Curing Pressure Sensitive Adhesive
Sonny Liu, Henkel Corporation
High solubility, Bisacyl Phosphine Oxide photoinitiator with high reactivity for LED curing
Stefan Van den Branden, IGM Resins

4C: Sustainable Solutions

New Sustainable UV/LED polyurethane dispersions
Michel Tielemans and Jin Lu, Allnex

The Future of Sustainability in Additive Manufacturing
Clémentine Champagne, Arkema

LED Curable Dichroic Coatings Based on Structural Color Copolymers
Matthew Ryan, Cypris Materials, Inc.

Formulating inkjet inks with sustainability in mind
Angie Runacre, Fujifilm Ink Solutions Group

10:00 – 11:00 PM – BREAK

Special Fireside Chat

with Corey Lewis, The Pokémon Company International

 

 Working at Pokemon is every kid’s dream! My career at TPCi lets me fulfill my two biggest passions in life – executing world-class creative with the transformative power of print and design while bringing joy to the world on a brand I’ve loved since childhood.

My team of talented Print Producers and I manage the production of Pokemon TCG (Trading Card Game) material from inception, printing, and then packout and assembly. Everything is possible and there’s nothing we can’t do!

    11:00 – 12:00 PM

    5A: Coil Coating

    A new perspective for UV/EB Coatings
    Pauline Mailliot, Beckers Group

    UV/EB and Coil: A Marital Bliss
    Marcus Hutchins, allnex

    5B: Overcoming Regulatory Challenges

    Solutions for Photoinitiators
    Dong Yue Guo, TianJin JiuRi New Materials Co
    Facing the regulatory challenges of an ever-changing market for photopolymers
    Jennifer McClung, allnex, USA

    5C: Measurement & Analytical II

    A UV Measurement Carol: The Past, Present and Future Ghosts of UV Radiometry visit RadTech
    Jim Raymont & PK Swain, EIT2.0
    How Often Should UV Radiometers Be Calibrated--A Limited Look At The Question
    Joe T. May, EIT2.0
    11:00 – 12:00 PM

    Hot Melt Adhesives are Hot, Hot, Hot

    This panel will explore the rapidly growing interest in UV hot melt adhesives, emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and efficiency as the main forces propelling this trend. It will showcase the impact of UV hot melt adhesives on manufacturing, product quality, and environmental practices. Attendees will receive expert insights into the market’s dynamics, future prospects, and the challenges and opportunities present. This session is crucial for anyone looking to stay ahead in the adhesive technology field.

    Panelists:

    • Jennifer Heathcote, GEW
    • Michael T. Waterman-High, Ph.D., Avery Dennison
    • Clay Kellam, Henkel
    • Dan Gardner, Valco Melton
    • Zack Gatland, Mactac
    12:00 – 1:00 PM

    6A: De-Inking UV/EB Materials

    Enable Recyclability of Packaging with De-inking solutions for UV printed inks
    Endrit Shurdha, Arkema

    Increasing the recyclability of plastics through the use of an alkali strippable primer
    Jennifer McClung, allnex, USA

    6B: Overcoming Regulatory Challenges

    Ductile Glassy Polymer Networks Capable of Large Plastic Deformation and Heat-induced Elastic
    Caleb Reese, The University of Utah
    Energy Curable Solutions to PFA Replacement in Coatings
    Jon Shaw, allnex USA Inc.

    6C: Coatings Technology Innovations

    A revolutionary UVC curing technology
    Dr. Christian G. Schäfer, BASF SE, Oliver Starzmann, IST METZ GmbH & Co.
    Easy to Process: New Silica Matting Agent for Energy Curable Coatings
    Dr. Ziniu Yu, W. R. Grace
    12:00 – 1:00 PM

    UV/EB for Coil Coatings

    This panel discussion will spotlight the groundbreaking advancements in UV and EB coil coatings, highlighting their ability to redefine industry benchmarks through fast crosslinking, compatibility with heat-sensitive materials, and a marked decrease in energy use versus traditional methods. Attendees will learn how UV/EB coil coatings surpass industry expectations by championing innovation, sustainability, and efficiency. This session is crucial for industry professionals looking to lead in the evolution of coating technologies.

    Panelists:

    • Pauline Maillot, Beckers Group
    • Karl Swanson, PCT Ebeam
    • Sebastien Villeneuve, AkzoNobel
    • Diego Pedemonte, GLOBUS Srl
    1:00 – 3:00 PM – LUNCHEON
    2:00 – 3:00 PM

    New Product Debut 4

    Nippon Shokubai’s Unique Functional Monomers
    Atsushi Tachibana, Nippon Shokubai

    Utilizing the Versatility of Urethane Acrylates: Elevating Coating Performance Across Diverse Applications
    Jonathan Wattras, BASF

    LED coatings for Industrial Applications
    Michael Kelly, Allied UV

    Albert Invent R&D Platform
    Gavin Chan, Albert Invent

    3:00 – 3:45 PM

    New Product Debut 5

    Meet The ESP-Dlux® Automated Infection Control System
    Ann Alexander DuPuis, Elevated Health Systems, LLC

    Advancements in UV-C LED technology at ams OSRAM – Next generation of UV-C LED and outlook into the future
    Alexander Wilm, ams OSRAM

    Unifying Light Convergence: The Future of UV
    Mike Higgins, Excelitas Technologies

    3:00 – 5:00 PM

    7A: Batteries II

    Automated High Throughput Screening of Increased Ionic Conductivity Polymer Electrolytes
    Johanna Schwartz, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

    Development of a UV curing process for Li-Ion battery manufacturing
    Oliver Hamann, Miltec UV

    Energy-efficient Insulative Coatings for Battery Cell Applications
    Saeid Biria, Arkema

    7B: Photoinitiator II

    Glyoxylates as versatile photoinitiator class for LED curing of standard and low migration systems
    Camila Baroni, IGM Resins
    Using building blocks to meet requirements on regulatory and sustainability in Radiation curing
    David Engberg, Perstorp AB
    Inherently Reactive Urethane Acrylate Oligomers for UV Cured Materials with Low Extractables
    Donald Herr, Arkema
    Star-shaped polymeric α-aminoketone photo-initiators with low migration and high photo-activity
    Qinyan Zhu, Ph.D., Zhejiang Yangfan New Material Co., Ltd

    7C: Photopolymerization Fundamentals

    Controlling Material Properties in Photocured Networks Using Small-molecular Weight Hyperbranched Oligomer Additives
    Luis Jessen and C. Allan Guymon, University of Iowa
    Directed Network Structure Through Controlled Radical Photopolymerization
    Huayang Fang and C. Allan Guymon, University of Iowa
    Smart Polymers and Biofilms

    Devatha P. Nair & Michael Schurr, Azodent

    4:00 – 5:00 PM

    UV Curing Technologies with Print Embellishment Processes

    (Presented by the Foil & Specialty Effects Association)

    Learn about the latest UV and UV LED curing opportunities for all print embellishment technologies, from specialty UV coatings and cold foil transfer to digital inkjet embellishment processes with digital foils and spot coatings

    Panelists:

    • Dianna Brodine, UV+EB Technology Magazine (Moderator)
    • David Biro, Sun Chemical
    • Corey Lewis, The Pokémon Company International
    5:00 – 6:00 PM – RECEPTION

    UV/EB Technology for Lithium-Ion Batteries

    Marcus Hutchins, allnex

    Economists predict that the lithium-ion battery market value to exceed $400 billion dollars by 2030 as the Nation and the World start to pivot to more sustainable and carbon-neutral avenues. Taking center stage in the rapid growth of the lithium-ion battery are electric vehicles where automakers are making multi-billion dollar investments into the development and manufacturing of new lines of EVs eliminating a number of internal combustion models. The goal for many is to have at least 50% of the models offered to be either hybrid or fully electric by 2030. The rapid adoption and expansion of the use of lithium-ion will require operation excellence in the manufacturing process to achieve such aggressive growth targets. One technology that could have a positive impact on manufacturing excellence is the incorporation of UV/EB curing technology into the manufacturing process. UV/EB technology is known for its rapid cure and chemical resistance thus allowing for faster throughput and ability to withstand the harsh performance environment of batteries. This presentation will explore several UV/EB technologies that can be used in the manufacturing process of electrodes and new technology developments that help bridge the gaps between the current manufacturing processes and the ultimate goal of 100% solids or more sustainable solutions.

    Is UV/EB the Answer to the EV Question? (It’s All About Energy!)

    Michael Bonner, Saint Clair Systems

    The changing Electric Vehicle (EV) landscape faces considerable challenges and concerns. These range from Battery Energy Density to Charge Time to Range Anxiety to the source of the electricity in the first place. It’s pretty obvious that all of these are related to energy…

    So, what does UV/EB technology have to do with energy in EV design and production?

    Ultraviolet (UV), Electron Beam (EB), and UV-LED, also known as energy curable technology, was developed in the late 1920’s by Edwin Newton of the B. F. Goodrich Company to “”vulcanize”” natural rubber, so it born of the automotive industry. UV curing began to evolve in the 1960’s, with significant commercialization in the 1970’s driven by the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo. Since that time, improvements in chemistry and processing technology has made it one of the most sustainable technologies used in manufacturing from aerospace to vehicle components.

    In this presentation we will examine how UV/EB technology provides greater durability with thinner films, which means lower weight, translating to lower energy demands for an EV. This thinner film capability also improves anode and cathode performance, which offers greater efficiency in both discharge and charging modes for battery cells and packs.

    We’ll also examine how these technologies increase throughput, reduce waste, and reduce the energy required in the manufacturing coating process by up to 95% over conventional coating technologies, yet reduce CO2 emissions to meet or exceed air quality standards without requiring add-on pollution controls. We’ll conclude by showing how these advantages combine to reduce the overall demand on the grid, supporting the conversion to “clean energy” sources.

    A New Class of UV Curable Binders for Li-Ion Battery Applications

    Gary Sigel, Miltec UV

    UV based binders for Li ion battery applications is a promising chemistry that first appeared in Miltec’s portfolio as early as 2009 as a demonstrated ‘Environmentally Green Technology’. Miltec UV has been developing UV and E-Beam curable binders to replace PvDF and the hazardous solvent NMP in Li-Ion Cathode manufacturing processes. By applying a unique combination of fundamental understanding of photopolymer chemistry, photo-polymerizable UV binders, several photo-polymerizable UV binder formulations were evaluated and improved to match or exceed the performance characteristics of the legacy PvDF based technology. The photopolymerization by UV or EB cure of the acrylate-based chemistry underlying the UV binder systems has been determined to have high double bond conversions by IR analysis of free films and in the final cathode yielding good mechanical and electro-chemical performance. The effect of incorporating different classes of UV backbone structures within the UV binder formulation on performance metrics of Li-Ion cells will be reviewed and examples of analytical results and their impact on coin cell performance will be presented.

    New Photoinitiators with acrylate moiety

    Kenji Kikuta, Osaka Organic Chemical

    We reported a new acrylate curing system with H-doner monomer / H-accepter monomer in Photopolymer week in Oct 2022 in Boulder, CO. One area for improvement in this system is the absorption wavelength. One area for improvement in this system is the absorption wavelength. In this presentation, we are going to report on the development of a system that cures at longer wavelengths.

    Towards a TPO alternative

    Michael Kiehnel, BCH

    TPO is a highly efficient type 1 free radical photoinitiator widely used in UV curing. Since TPO has been put on the SVHC list (Substances of Very High Concern) finding alternatives has been a challenge.

    We offer a replacement which has similar characteristics to TPO without falling under SVHC. It is a highly efficient Type I free radical photoinitiator that can be used in various UV curing applications.

    Cationic Photoinitiator for LED Curing Pressure Sensitive Adhesive

    Sonny Liu, Henkel Corporation

    A sulfonium salt will be discussed as a UV LED cationic photoinitiator. This photoinitiator contains chromophores of aromatic ketone and aromatic sulfide, which yields UV absorbance tailing to 400nm. The photoinitiator has good solubility in adhesive formulations due to a covalently attached alkyl chain. The acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive containing the photoinitiator demonstrated higher curing efficiency than commonly used cationic photoinitiators under 385nm LED lamp.

    High solubility, Bisacyl Phosphine Oxide photoinitiator with high reactivity for LED curing

    Stefan Van den Branden, IGM Resins

    For many years phosphine oxides have been the photoinitiator (PI) of choice in systems requiring absorption in the near-visible light UV-spectrum. With the reclassification of TPO and the limited solubility of the current Bisacyl Phosphine Oxide (BAPO) photoinitiators, there is a need for a new generation of UV-A active photoinitiators. This presentation will show results of a new BAPO type PI, which can be used with both classical Hg-lamp and new LED curing equipment. This type of BAPO is characterized by high solubility in UV-formulations, and improved reactivity. It can be used in both printing inks and industrial coating applications.

    New Sustainable UV/LED polyurethane dispersions

    Michel Tielemans and Jin Lu, Allnex

    This paper presents the latest developments in the field of ultra-low odor and low extractable coatings, aimed at addressing the growing demand for sustainable and versatile packaging materials. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, our research focuses on creating novel coatings that exhibit exceptional flexibility, enabling the elimination of unnecessary layers while utilizing recyclable materials. The objective of this paper is to contribute to the ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) knowledge base, expanding the understanding of environmentally friendly coating systems and their applications in the packaging industry.

    The Future of Sustainability in Additive Manufacturing

    Clémentine Champagne, Arkema

    Additive manufacturing is generally considered to be a more environmentally responsible technology by enabling on-demand, local production, with the potential to reduce material waste and minimize logistic footprint. The key to unlocking its full potential lies in the use of sustainable raw materials. These innovations are a way that all value chain participants can work together to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the materials we use.

    We are leveraging this experience in design, development and supply of bio-based (meth)acrylates with traceable bio content to create high-performance photopolymer 3D printing formulations with high bio content. From safer products answering regulatory realities to materials with lower carbon footprint, the needs and opportunities for more sustainable solutions is expansive.

    LED Curable Dichroic Coatings Based on Structural Color Copolymers

    Matthew Ryan, Cypris Materials, Inc.

    Structural color is a natural phenomenon that occurs when nano-scale features interact with white light to create interference and is commonly seen in feathers, beetles, shells, opal, and other minerals. With studies showing that pigments and dyes contribute up to 50% of the carbon emissions in formulated inks and paints, we have developed structural color copolymer based on 50% renewable raw materials to eliminate the need and associated environmental impact of pigments and dyes. When formulated as UV curable coatings they provide highly chromatic colors with reduced carbon footprint suitable for numerous application methods and end use markets.

    Formulating inkjet inks with sustainability in mind

    Angie Runacre, Fujifilm Ink Solutions Group

    Across all manufacturing sectors there is a drive for sustainability. In the printing world, inkjet provides huge opportunities for reducing the environmental footprint of printed products throughout the value chain. This presentation/paper explores the challenges of formulating a UV curable inkjet ink with this in mind.

    A new perspective for UV/EB Coatings

    Pauline Mailliot, Beckers Group

    The need to decarbonise the pre-coated metal industry is providing a strong incentive to develop and commercialise radiation cured technologies. This paper discusses a comparative lifecycle analysis which demonstrates the reduced environmental impact a Coil Coated radiation cured coating offers based on a cradle to the coater’s gate analysis and shows how changes in raw materials, energy sources, and coating techniques provide significant sustainable benefits over current thermal cure applications.

    UV/EB and Coil: A Marital Bliss

    Marcus Hutchins, allnex

    Since its inception in 1940 for Venetian blinds, coil coatings have become a significant part of our daily lives through the evolution of some great technological advances over nearly a century. Polyester, SMP, and PVDF are some of the chemistries that have allowed the coil to make an exceptional contribution to construction, transportation, industrial, and packaging applications. Recently the market has begun pivoting as brand owners need more environmentally friendly processes and products. Regulatory pressure on fluorocarbons and high carbon emission operation footprint coupled with the need for coil coaters to reduce scrap, improve line speed, and be more environmentally friendly is opening the pathway to energy-curable chemistry which has also been innovating. Once limited in its scope of use, energy-curable chemistry continues to evolve and now shows the capability to challenge many of the tough performance expectations of the coil coating market, including flexibility, toughness, and exterior durability. This paper will touch on several available options within the energy curable space including UV and EB cure for 100% solids, waterborne, and dual-cure technology; their most recent advancements; and how they can effectively be used to address several coil applications that need to be more sustainable and offer higher throughput.

    Solutions for Photoinitiators

    Dong Yue Guo, TianJin JiuRi New Materials Co

    In this presentation Jiuri reviews both of the key challenges that face the photoinitiator market. The first set of challenges encompass chemical concerns such as human sensitivity, PI migration, odor, yellow(ing), oxygen inhibition. The second challenge works through regulatory concerns such as restricting existing photoinitiators and increasing difficulty in registering next generation products. Lastly, this presentation will share where we are in developing solutions to some of these challenges, including macromolecular, low-odor, and low-yellowing photoinitiators.

    Facing the regulatory challenges of an ever-changing market for photopolymers

    Jennifer McClung, allnex, USA

    As the regulatory landscape continues to change, especially when considering photopolymers in certain applications, it becomes necessary for formulators to reevaluate their formulating tools. In recent years, the toolbox has drastically decreased especially with need for BPA free materials and the recent reclassification of materials such as TMPTA. For coatings in the packaging space and in newer applications, there is a need for materials aimed at complying with the various regulations, including things like the Swiss list and the German Inks Ordinance. There is also a need for the elimination of materials that are considered substances of very high concern, such as the work horse photoinitiator TPO. This paper will detail the most recent work done to create new products to ease the burden of more aggressive regulations in certain applications.

    A UV Measurement Carol: The Past, Present and Future Ghosts of UV Radiometry visit RadTech

    Jim Raymont & PK Swain, EIT2.0

    The EIT 2.0 team has a unique perspective as 2024 marks our 40th year of involvement with industrial UV measurement. A lot of lessons have been learned and a lot of things have changed over that time, most for the good. This presentation will provide an overview of UV measurement with a brief look at the past, an update on where we are today and what is needed for the future. The presentation will look at the success stories as well as the challenges that lie ahead. Join us to see who plays Ebenezer Scrooge and if radiometry is able to turn him into a kinder gentler person.

    How Often Should UV Radiometers Be Calibrated–A Limited Look At The Question

    Joe T. May, EIT2.0

    UV radiometers are subjected to large changes in temperature, UV energy levels, humidity along with mechanical shock and vibration during routine use. Individual manufacturers of radiometers recommend a period between calibrations of 6 months up to unspecified. The authors have drawn on a n instrument pool of about 32,000 radiometers and have performed some analysis of return calibration data. Service Life ranges from 0 to 10 years. Although this is a limited study some preliminary conclusions can be drawn and they will be presented.

    Enable Recyclability of Packaging with De-inking solutions for UV printed inks

    Endrit Shurdha, Arkema

    Plastic recycling is a critical action to protect our environment, conserve finite resources, reduce carbon footprint in manufacturing and support the transition to more sustainable production practices. However, removing UV-cured inks, overprint varnishes or primers is challenging, especially for plastic substrates. Arkema will present its new findings and approach to de-inking of UV-cured systems, focusing primarily on new materials to enable de-inking of plastic films.

    Increasing the recyclability of plastics through the use of an alkali strippable primer

    Jennifer McClung, allnex, USA

    Circular economy is a concept that continues to gain traction in the industry with brand owners having different definitions and needs to meet their individual corporate objectives. When focused on recyclability of materials with coatings, the ability to recycle certain films is often inhibited by contamination from the inks that are used for decoration. The removal of inks is often more difficult because they are specifically designed to adhere to the plastic substrates that are used, and often even the aggressive alkali solution isn’t enough to remove the inks that were applied. The introduction of an alkali strippable primer layer that could help the ink easily release from the plastic would increase the ability of plastics to be recycled. This recent development of an alkali strippable primer for plastics will be discussed at length in the paper below.

    Ductile Glassy Polymer Networks Capable of Large Plastic Deformation and Heat-induced Elastic

    Caleb Reese, The University of Utah

    Many thermoplastic polymers exhibit outstanding ductility by combining strength and large deformations. These large deformations are irreversible — known as plastic deformation. Elastomers are capable of large, reversible deformation — known as elastic deformation — but have low strength. To this end, we developed glassy and ductile polyamide networks capable of large plastic deformation (>200% strain) and high strength (~50 MPa tensile strength and ~1500 MPa Young’s modulus), similar to the tensile properties of polyolefins and Nylon 66. We discovered that hydrogen bonding between meta-phthalamide groups was essential to the ductility. Since these polyamide networks are covalently bonded, we demonstrated their unique durability enabled by repeatable elastic recovery at elevated temperatures, exhibiting indifferent tensile properties in each cycle. We envision these ductile, glassy polymer networks as promising alternatives to many thermoplastic polymers, benefiting from their combined ductility and durability, along with the advantage of starting from a resin.

    Energy Curable Solutions to PFA Replacement in Coatings

    Jon Shaw, allnex USA Inc.

    Perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAs) have found use in industrial applications due to their unique combination of hydrophobicity, lipophobicity, exterior durability, and high thermal stability. Unfortunately, PFAs have been found to have a negative effect on the environment due to their bio-persistence, and chemical companies have started to pivot away from PFA chemistry. In this paper, we will present new UV/EB technology that offers high water contact angle, long-term performance after weathering, and stain resistance that provides a functional alternative to PFA chemistry.

    A revolutionary UVC curing technology

    Dr. Christian G. Schäfer, BASF SE, Oliver Starzmann, IST METZ GmbH & Co.

    One of the continuing issues with UV curing in the industrial space is oxygen inhibition significantly limiting the curing process. This can lead to limitations in the line speed of industrial installations and even reduced coating properties. Technical solutions to this problem, which are widely used and known in industry (inertization and increasing the amount of photoinitiators), also have their challenges and associated with higher costs and undesirable effects, such as yellowing, odor and emission. There is a new UV platform which offers a key development in UVC light curing technology. This is the result of a collaboration of IST Metz and BASF SE, with the goal of increasing the UVC component in the spectrum of a UV lamp. This innovative technology enables efficient and environmentally friendly curing of UV coatings without the use of inertization, whilst reducing photoinitiators (in some cases they be dispensed with altogether = direct curing). The presentation will first explain the basics of this new technology, including the physical processes that occur during the curing of coatings with UVC radiation. Subsequently, case studies and application examples will be shown, demonstrating the effectiveness and versatility of this technology. Various branches of industry such as the flooring and furniture industries are covered. In addition, the environmentally friendly aspects of the technology, such as the reduction of emissions and the use of water-based resins, are discussed.

    Easy to Process: New Silica Matting Agent for Energy Curable Coatings

    Dr. Ziniu Yu, W. R. Grace

    With the changes of people’s taste in furniture and flooring aesthetics, low-gloss energy curable coatings are becoming popular in the coatings industry. However, the traditional silica matting agents in the energy curable coating can significantly increase the viscosity of the formulation, which may limit the flexibility of formulation development at formulators. In addition, the viscosity increase may force the convertors to change their application process to adapt to this viscosity by, for example, raising the application temperature during roller coating. In this paper, a new silica matting agent with special organic treatment is introduced. It provides lower shear and processing viscosity compared to traditional matting agents, which allows the applicators to have larger bandwidth in processing the coatings system. In addition, excellent matting efficiency was observed when combined with smaller particle size matting agent in the formulation. The other performance features like chemical resistance, hardness and film clarity are investigated. With the rheological benefits and good chemical and physical performance, the newly developed silica matting agents are the ideal solution for 100% VOC-free energy curable coating systems.

    Automated High Throughput Screening of Increased Ionic Conductivity Polymer Electrolytes

    Johanna Schwartz, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

    Advancement of increased ionic conductivity polymer electrolyte materials for Li-ion battery applications has traditionally required formulations to be hand-mixed by researchers, limiting progress and adding potential batch-to-batch variability. Through our Studying-Polymers-On a-Chip (SPOC) platform, we seek to solve the challenge of developing safe, stable, and cost effective batteries. We do so by accelerating screening of photocured polymer electrolyte materials through integration of additive manufacturing, impedance characterization, and machine learning experimental planning systems.

    Development of a UV curing process for Li-Ion battery manufacturing

    Oliver Hamann, Miltec UV

    As the world increasingly swaps fossil fuel power for emissions-free electrification, Li-Ion batteries are vital to the energy transition and demand is forecast to increase dramatically over the next decade. The manufacturing process for Li-Ion cathodes, one of the key building blocks for a battery, dominates the energy consumption during cell manufacturing and requires the use of a toxic and explosive solvent. Replacing conventional thermally cured binders in this process with UV curable binders offers an opportunity to substantially decrease the environmental impact of cathode manufacturing while reducing the manufacturing cost at the same time. In this presentation we will highlight the battery industry expectations regarding safety, electro-chemical performance as well as environmental compatibility and discuss how Miltec UV is addressing the challenges to formulate UV curable binders and update the cathode roll-to-roll coating process. Commercial and technical opportunities for further development of UV curing processes for Li-Ion Battery [processes will be reviewed.

    Energy-efficient Insulative Coatings for Battery Cell Applications

    Saeid Biria, Arkema

    In response to the global shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) in the next decade, automotive manufacturers worldwide are intensifying their focus on EV production. This surge in EV adoption has created a demand for enhanced performance in battery-related coatings. Among the solutions gaining traction, UV-curable coatings have garnered significant attention from manufacturers due to their rapid curing rate, minimal energy consumption, and ease of application processes. These qualities are pivotal for achieving heightened industrial efficiency and enabling large-scale production. Notably, sprayable UV-cured coatings with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a 100% solid composition are emerging as a viable alternative to traditional PET films. They offer comparable dielectric protection while having thinner profiles and eliminating the risk of delamination. Within this context, Arkema is positioned to showcase its cutting-edge UV-curable acrylate resins and photoinitiators, empowering formulators to address the multifaceted challenges of this application. These products offer outstanding dielectric properties, superior adhesion, flexibility, and seamless assembly capabilities, further reinforcing the EV industry’s pursuit of advanced battery coatings.

    Glyoxylates as versatile photoinitiator class for LED curing of standard and low migration systems

    Camila Baroni, IGM Resins

    With the reclassification of various classical photoinitiators like alpha-amino ketones, and the growing success of LED curing formulators are looking for high performing and safe alternatives. This paper will describe new Type II photoinitiators based on glyoxylate chemistry, showing good reactivity under both Hg and LED lamps. This technology offers new opportunities to formulate inks and coatings, including low migration options for food packaging applications.

    Using building blocks to meet requirements on regulatory and sustainability in Radiation curing

    David Engberg, Perstorp AB

    In this paper we look at alternative raw materials to TMPTA.

    We review Pentaspiroglycol (PSG), a rigid cycloaliphatic diol as a potential safe alternative to BPA.
    How high functional resins can contribute to low migration.

    Building blocks does not only need to be safe but also sustainable hence we also look at utilizing the mass balance concept for more sustainable building blocks.

    Inherently Reactive Urethane Acrylate Oligomers for UV Cured Materials with Low Extractables

    Donald Herr, Arkema

    A platform of “Inherently Reactive” urethane acrylate oligomers has been developed which incorporates photoinitiator functionality into the oligomer backbone. The resulting polymer-bound initiating chemistry allows for low or potentially zero odor and extractables related to the initiating functionality. Unlike traditional polymeric photoinitiators, these inherently reactive oligomers also provide the basic mechanical and film forming properties of a formulated product, similar to traditional acrylated oligomers. The paper will provide the methods used to synthesize the new oligomers and performance comparisons to small molecule photoinitiators.

    Star-shaped polymeric α-aminoketone photo-initiators with low migration and high photo-activity

    Qinyan Zhu, Ph.D., Zhejiang Yangfan New Material Co., Ltd

    Traditional α-aminoketone photo-initiators, such as 907, 369, 379, have been restricted in many applications. New star-shaped polymeric α-aminoketone photo-initiators were designed, synthesized. Their photo-physical and photo-chemical properties in conventional and LED lamps in various acrylate formulations were investigated. The new photo-initiators reported here have excellent compatibility and storage stability in acrylate formulations. Furthermore, the migration of these polymeric α-aminoketone photo-initiators in the photo-cured films were much less than those of traditional photo-initiators . The high efficiency and low migration of the new developed photo-initiators make them suitable for food, medical packaging coating, biomedical materials and other areas.

    Controlling Material Properties in Photocured Networks Using Small-molecular Weight Hyperbranched Oligomer Additives

    Luis Jessen and C. Allan Guymon, University of Iowa

    While the long linear structure of commercial oligomer additives provides photo-curable resins with useful material properties such as high toughness through increased elongation, this attribute also introduces several challenges such as increased resin viscosity and reduced crosslink density. Due to their globular structure, Hyperbranched oligomers (HBPs) provide a potential alternative as their reduced likelihood to entangle leads to lower viscosities and their internal crosslinks enhance the crosslink density of the material compared to their linear counterparts. In this work, we design and synthesize small molecular weight HBPs using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The use of RAFT polymerization provides both the ability to limit molecular weight as well as maintain functional trithio-groups for block formation. Aside from reducing resin viscosity, we have been able to show that crosslink density (and subsequently Young’s Modulus) can be tuned by controlling the extent of functionalization on the HBP while simultaneously maintaining low resin viscosities. By further exploring the effects of various structural components within the HBP on material and resin properties, we anticipate gaining the understanding necessary to engineer material properties while capitalizing on the advantages inherent to HBPs.

    Directed Network Structure Through Controlled Radical Photopolymerization

    Huayang Fang and C. Allan Guymon, University of Iowa

    Microgel formation during early stages of photopolymerization leads to heterogeneous polymer networks which significantly limits material properties. In this study, we use controlled radical photopolymerization, including reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents and nitroxide-mediated photopolymerization (NMP2) initiators, in cross-linked resins to mediate the polymerization process and network formation. RAFT agent addition has shown a significant impact on polymerization behavior and ultimate polymer properties in model systems. When comparing to conventional free radical polymerization, reaction rate is slightly decreased with RAFT containing formulations due to the formation of RAFT-adduct radicals during chain propagation that enable radical deactivation and reinitiation. RAFT-modified films exhibit narrower half width of tan delta peaks, indicating more homogeneous networks. In addition, RAFT structure-based network adaption is also investigated by comparing to networks polymerized from thiol chain transfer agent. Although incorporating thiol increases strain to break values and overall toughness, the RAFT containing polymer networks enable further network rearrangement through the adaptive nature of bond formation and breaking, leading to 2-fold increase in toughness. Additionally, we have designed and synthesized a series of NMP2 initiators with different chromophores to tune light absorbance characteristics and material properties. In linear polymeric systems, incorporating NMP2 initiators leads to controlled molecular weight evolution and low polydispersity. When incorporating specific NMP2 into cross-linked resins, similar polymerization kinetics are achieved to those using conventional photoinitiators. However, gelation is delayed, and significantly decreased shrinkage stress is observed. NMP2 polymerized cross-linked polymer films also exhibit enhanced flexibility and increased toughness.