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 20

Short Courses
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
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: Materials

Novel self-curing resin with glyoxylate technology: a new formulation tool for LED-curable coatings and inks
Paolo Betti, IGM Resins USA Inc.
Advanced Materials: Instantly Sandable / Paintable Light Cured Filler Materials
David Kent Whitinger, Applied Molecules, LLC.
Study on two types of UV-moisture dual-cure technologies
Yiwei Dai, Henkel Corporation

4B: UV LED 1

Recent Advancements in UV LED Curing Technology
Peter Cop, Excelitas Technologies
Analyzing cost and performance trade-offs for high uniformity UV LED arrays
Carlton Gibson, Seoul Viosys
How to design a >1m wide and >95% uniform UV tunnel with LEDs.
Marko Hofmann, Seoul Viosys
Boosting Efficiency in High Power UVC LED Modules
Michael Karst, MSG Lithoglas GmbH

4C: Photopolymerization Fundamentals 1

Formulating urethane resins with reduced viscosity without compromise to urethane content or polymeric properties
Jeff Stansbury, University of Colorado
Constructing and Deconstructing Thermosets with Light and Thiols: Polarity Reversal Catalysis and Dual-Trigger Strategies
Derek L. Patton, University of Southern Mississippi
Why Does My Resin Work on Some 3D Printers and Not on Others?
Christopher Bowman, University of Colorado Boulder
Small-molecular weight hyperbranched oligomer enhance mechanical properties while lowering shrinkage stress in photopolymer networks
Allan Guymon, Brigham Young University

4D: Open Panel

8:00 – 8:45 AM

1D: Automotive Panel

9:00 – 10:00 AM

10:00 – 11:00 AM – BREAK
11:00 – 12:00 PM

5A: Coatings 1

AI - Where it Can (and Can't) Give You a Competitive Edge in R&D
Richard Garcia, Uncountable
Polyester Acrylates as Bases for Industrial Clear Coats
Brian Dillman, IGM Resins USA Inc.

5B: UV LED 2

Research to reality: UV LED systems conquer a new field of application
Nico Morgenbrod, Seoul Viosys
Booster for LED UV Technology
Bill Everett, Power Dream America Inc

5C: Photopolymerization Fundamentals 2

Arts and crafts by photopolymerization: Using Photopolymerization reactions to form, pattern and control LCEs for potential soft robotics applications
Tayler Hebner, Purdue University
Color- and Dose-Controlled Photocuring to Create Multimodulus Objects
Zachariah A Page, The University of Texas at Austin

5D: PSA Panel

11:00 – 11:45 AM

12:00 – 1:00 PM

6A: Coatings 2

Urethane Acrylate Formulations: Mechanical Property Modification via Multifunctional Monomers
Brian Dillman, IGM Resins USA Inc.
Scratch Resistant UV-curable Coating for Ophthalmic Lens Materials – Advantage of Dual cure Formulations
Abhijit Sarkar, Ultra Optics

6B: AI/Machine Learning

IIoT, Industry 4.0, and AI: What Process Parameters Should I be Watching and Which Should I be Controlling?
Michael Bonner, Saint Clair Systems Inc
Deploying AI & AI-Driven DOE in Real-Time at the Bench
Sasha Novakovich, Alchemy

6C: TBD

6D: Plastics Pact Panel

12:00 – 1:00 PM

1:00 – 3:00 PM – LUNCHEON
3:00 – 5:00 PM

7A: Regulatory

An Update on Mercury-Added Product Regulation
Jennifer Heathcote, GEW (EC) Limited
Safer polymeric photoinitiator solutions for UV and UV LED curing in coatings & inks
Richard Plenderleith, Arkema
Updates to regulations in the United States and European Union and how these may impact radiation curable technologies
Shannon Gainey, JM Huber Corporation
Global Regulatory Updates and Their Impacts on Research and Development in UV/EB Technology
Veronica Marrero, TotalSDS

7B: Equipment

Continuous Monitoring of UV with a Sensor System: What is new?
Pradyumna K (PK) Swain, Ph.D., EIT 2.0 LLC
2D Irradiance Profiling: Improving Process Control Efficiently and Reliably
Darrin Leonhardt, Ph.D, EIT 2.0 LLC
Using In-situ TJ Measurement to Improve Lifetime Projections and Reduce UV-LED Product Cost and Size
Jeff Hulett, Vektrex
Redefining Aerospace & Defense Production: Bladeless Centrifugal Technology with Potential for UV+EB Integration
Matthew Gross, FlackTek

7C: Complex & Bioinspired Surface Patterning

Color-changing Paints Enabled by Photoresponsive Combinations of Bio-inspired Colorants and Semiconductors
Daniel J. Wilson, Northeastern University
Innovative Lignin-Based Coatings: From Extraction to Sustainable Performance
Véronique Landry, Université Lavalty
Presentation Title TBA
Caroline Szczepanski, Michigan State University

7D: New Product Debut 2

5:00 – 6:00 PM – RECEPTION

Novel self-curing resin with glyoxylate technology: a new formulation tool for LED-curable coatings and inks

Paolo Betti, IGM Resins USA Inc.

Self-curing resins represent a significant advancement in the field of polymeric materials in UV technology. Due to the increasing regulatory concerns linked to certain classes of low molecular weight photoinitiators, the development of formulations based on resins with built-in initiation capability has become an attractive alternative. Unlike conventional formulations that require photoinitiators to start the radical polymerization of acrylated resins, self-curing resins carry a functional group that can convert UV-energy into radicals, eliminating the need to add a photoinitiator to the formulation. This presentation will show results of a new glyoxylate self-curing resin, suitable for LED curing in a wide range of applications.

Advanced Materials: Instantly Sandable / Paintable Light Cured Filler Materials

David Kent Whitinger, Applied Molecules, LLC.

In this paper we will explore the rapidly emerging technology of high-viscosity UV and Light cured resins designed for composite repair applications. Specifically pin-hole repair, composite part repair and composite mold repair.

These resins are gaining commercial attention for several reason, but the main reason is they can be applied on vertical or curved surfaces – hold their shape and then be cured within seconds of being exposed to simple inexpensive UV or visible light sources.
Commercially, UV / Light curing resin materials would present production advantages because they can be sanded and painted essentially immediately after application. Traditional, repair materials can take 20 minutes up to several hours depending on size and depth of the repair

Possibly the most important characteristic is that these materials DO NOT SHRINK. Traditional repair resins often require multiple applications due to shrinkage when cured. UV and light cured materials can require “layering” depending on the depth of fill required.

Study on two types of UV-moisture dual-cure technologies

Yiwei Dai, Henkel Corporation

UV cure chemistry is widely used in adhesive and coating industrial for its distinct advantages, including but not limited in high cure rates, easy procedures and low-energy consumption. However, insufficient cure in the areas which cannot be reached by UV light becomes a significant drawback limiting its applications. Many dual cure technologies have been developed to overcome the limitation, and the combination of UV cure and moisture cure is one of the most popular solutions for its energy-saving feature. UV curable cyanoacrylates (UVCAs) have been developed with special photoinitiator package to perform UV cure. And they can still undergo anionic polymerization initiated by moisture no matter whether there is UV or not. Isocyanate-containing light-cure acrylates (NCO-LCAs) are the other good examples of UV-moisture dual cure technologies. NCO-LCA obtains shadow cure ability by introducing isocyanate function groups into the system. In this paper, we are presenting a study and comparison of these two dual-cure technologies, UVCA and NCO-LCA, in the mechanical properties, the degree of cure, and the cure mechanisms under different curing conditions. The progress in modification of UVCA is discussed as well.

Recent Advancements in UV LED Curing Technology

Peter Cop, Excelitas Technologies

UV LED curing systems are recognized for their advantages over legacy curing techniques by improving energy efficiency, reducing excess heat, creating a safer workplace, and enhancing environmental sustainability. UV LED curing processes are growing rapidly, and groundbreaking innovations continue to expand capabilities in various applications. We will discuss the most recent developments with highlights on system performance, scalability, applications, and manufacturing process quality.

Analyzing cost and performance trade-offs for high uniformity UV LED arrays

Carlton Gibson, Seoul Viosys

As UV LED product portfolios continue to make efficiency gains, system designers will increasingly need to choose between utilizing a small number of high-powered devices or a large number of low power devices. This study provides insight on how uniformity requirements of UV LED arrays at various working distances are impacted by decisions on array density. By utilizing optical ray tracing software to analyze various cases, recommendations are made on tailoring solutions to particular needs.

How to design a >1m wide and >95% uniform UV tunnel with LEDs.

Marko Hofmann, Seoul Viosys

Various applications require large format UV tunnels. Some with up to 2 meters in width and a length of 10 meters and more.
Due to the size) and required irradiation levels of such systems, mostly low to mid power Mercury based lamp technology was used. New developments in UV-LED package and assembly technology as well as smart driving and cooling concepts make these applications applicable to semiconductor based light sources.
We will give an overview of factors that have to be considered in order to achieve best uniformities for large scale systems and optimized life-time for stable processes throughout decades of operation.

Boosting Efficiency in High Power UVC LED Modules

Michael Karst, MSG Lithoglas GmbH

UVC-LEDs are becoming increasingly important in industrial curing applications, but their low efficiency remains a key barrier to replacing traditional mercury-based UVC lamps. The inefficiency is primarily due to internal losses within the LED and suboptimal light extraction from the packaged device. Previous studies have demonstrated that using miniaturized mirror elements close to the LED significantly increases light output and enhances thermal performance, thereby extending device lifetimes. This improvement is achieved by recovering a large amount of light emitted from the LED die edges.

Current high-power UVC-LED modules rely on either arrays of individually packaged LEDs or multi-chip packaging. The former requires a larger footprint, while the latter suffers from thermal challenges due to side-emitted light causing self-heating. We propose a novel approach using integrated mirror arrays that enable efficient multi-chip packages with high power density. Each LED is optically insulated from the others, ensuring optimal optical performance. This solution achieves a two-fold improvement in the performance/cost ratio, while maintaining the standard 3535 package outline, making it ideal for compact, high-efficiency UVC-LED modules. Our technology offers a viable path for overcoming efficiency barriers, thereby facilitating wider adoption of UVC-LEDs in industrial applications

Formulating urethane resins with reduced viscosity without compromise to urethane content or polymeric properties

Jeff Stansbury, University of Colorado

This study investigates key performance properties available when common di- or multi-urethane monomers or oligomers are formulated with a variety of monourethane (meth)acrylates used as alternative reactive diluents. This approach allows independent control of both the covalent network density and the urethane content, which provides effective noncovalent reinforcement in these photopolymers. Application areas include additive manufacturing and coatings where lower viscosity resins can provide improved processing efficiencies and higher conversion but unlike resins prepared with conventional reactive diluents, a high urethane concentration can be preserved. Along with viscosity control, monourethane diluents can be used to increase or decrease the overall reactive vinyl group densities in formulations. They can also be used to tailor the modulus, strength and toughness of the photocured, urethane-rich polymers. The comparison of conventional mono-vinyl or divinyl diluent comonomers versus monourethanes as diluents highlights the beneficial effects of maintaining a high urethane content when formulating for robust photopolymer materials.

Constructing and Deconstructing Thermosets with Light and Thiols: Polarity Reversal Catalysis and Dual-Trigger Strategies

Derek L. Patton, University of Southern Mississippi

This work demonstrates photoinduced thiol-catalyzed hydrogen abstraction and β-scission of acyclic benzylidene acetals as an innovative strategy to “command-destruct” polymer thermosets. Poly(thioether acetal) networks, synthesized via thiol-ene photopolymerization, degrade rapidly into alkyl benzoate byproducts upon light exposure, transitioning from solid to liquid within seconds. This dual-mode photochemistry enables rapid photopolymerization and photodegradation with a single light source, leveraging the distinct kinetics of radical-mediated polymerization and thiol-catalyzed β-scission. The process relies on stoichiometrically imbalanced thiol-ene formulations, where residual free thiols in the network are essential for efficient degradation. Substituent effects were investigated to modulate photodegradation rates. Spatial control was achieved using photolithography to pattern thermoset degradation, while wavelength-selective degradation was demonstrated with a violet light-sensitive photoinitiator. Furthermore, thermal protecting groups were introduced to excess thiols, creating a dual-trigger “AND” gate requiring both heat and light for activation. This approach to photoinduced command-construct and command-destruct processes shows potential for a range of applications, including degradable adhesives, additive/subtractive manufacturing, and more broadly as environment friendly materials with well-defined end-of-use management strategies.

Why Does My Resin Work on Some 3D Printers and Not on Others?

Christopher Bowman, University of Colorado Boulder

With the advent of photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing, numerous resins, printers and software have been developed, each with the aspiration of improving various aspects of the printing process including speed, resolution, and material properties, among other characteristics. In particular, the potential for additive manufacturing has spawned development of a large variety of printers almost always with different light sources that have different emission spectra, intensities and even sample geometries. While these differences often seem minor, the interactions of the printer light source with the resin are critical and dictate the ultimate performance of the printed part. Herein, we will utilize a comprehensive 4D model of the photopolymerization process to show how different aspects of the printer-resin interaction change the polymerization kinetics, depth of cure, resolution, temperature profile and, as a result, the final material properties. Specifically, polymerizations initiated by wavelength(s) and light intensities typical of several different printers will be simulated for an otherwise identical formulation. Dramatically different depths of cure, temperature excursions, oxygen inhibition layers, and mechanical performance arise due to these simple variations. General guidelines and concepts for utilizing a single formulation on multiple printers will be presented, based on these outcome.

Small-molecular weight hyperbranched oligomer enhance mechanical properties while lowering shrinkage stress in photopolymer networks

Allan Guymon, Brigham Young University

Due to their low impact on resin viscosity, high degree of solubility, and ability to reduce polymerization-induced shrinkage stress, low molecular weight hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) have gained interest in recent years as oligomeric additives to photocurable networks. To understand the role of HBP structure on ultimate photopolymer properties, small-molecular weight HBPs were synthesized using photo-iniferter RAFT polymerization and dispersed in densely crosslinking photo-curable resins. For comparison, linear oligomers of the same backbone composition and size were also synthesized and examined. Incorporation of HBPs significantly reduces resin viscosity compared to linear counterparts, especially at high oligomer molecular weights for which significant entanglements are prominent. Photopolymer networks cured from such resins display enhanced network homogeneity for HBP-modified materials due to the short primary chain backbones of the HBPs with limited capacity to form distinct relaxation domains. These morphologies translate to enhanced mechanical properties compared to linear oligomers with increased material modulus and toughness compared to linear oligomers. These changes are likely due to higher functional group concentrations and inherent crosslinking from the HBP. Additionally, HBPs were functionalized via RAFT block-addition using difunctional acrylates forming pendant double bonds resulting in an increase in network Tg without affecting pre-polymerization viscosity. Lower shrinkage stresses values for HBP-modified systems are evident, especially with additional double bond functionality. These results show that HBPs enable access to resin and network properties otherwise difficult to attain through the use of conventional linear oligomer additives in densely crosslinked photocurable systems.

AI – Where it Can (and Can’t) Give You a Competitive Edge in R&D

Richard Garcia, Uncountable

As AI becomes increasingly prevalent across industries, it is crucial for businesses to understand the importance of early adoption to avoid falling behind. For R&D organizations, integrating AI into their workflows can significantly enhance productivity, performance, and competitive advantage. In this talk, Uncountable will explore the transformative impact of AI in R&D. We will discuss current and future applications of AI, identify areas where AI may not yet be suitable, and outline essential practices for effectively implementing and utilizing AI over the next decade.

Polyester Acrylates as Bases for Industrial Clear Coats

Brian Dillman, IGM Resins USA Inc.

Polyester acrylates are valuable materials to coating formulators in comparison to both epoxy acrylates and urethane acrylates in that they are tin free, BPA free, low cost, low viscosity, and can be low yellowing. There are a broad ranges of material properties within the polyester acrylate family of oligomers: from very low to moderate viscosities, moderate to high crosslink densities, and hydrophilic to hydrophobic materials. The fundamental characteristics of polyester acrylates are discussed in detail including thermal transitions, mechanical properties, water absorption, and shrinkage. Select polyester acrylates are then formulated into clear coat formulations alongside epoxy acrylate and urethane acylate controls and the performance properties are compared in typical industrial coating tests including cure speed, adhesion to metal, mechanical properties, etc.

Research to reality: UV LED systems conquer a new field of application

Nico Morgenbrod, Seoul Viosys

UV LED have shown great success stories in many printing and coating applications, gaining high market adoption.

But several special applications have not been addressable due to technical reasons, even though the benefits would be enormous – safer, quicker, better quality.

With new ink and coating developments and high power UV LED solutions we will show the feasibility of an application, which was unimaginable for UV LED curing before.

We will demonstrate, how a conventional time consuming process of several hours to ensure drying of thick paints before further processing and re-use can be transformed into an immediate solution – minimizing disruption costs.
With a proof of concept backed with field test results, this presentation shows the potential of UV LED in instant curing of thick layers of coating, as well as giving an outlook to the future.

Booster for LED UV Technology

Bill Everett, Power Dream America Inc

UV LED BOOSTER PRINCIPLES

Increase surface cure by attacking slow propagating peroxyl radicals & generating fast
propagating ones.

Efficient chemistries:

  • Thiols or Amines
  • Photon Absorption
  • Radical Generation
  • Energy Transfer
  • Thermal Management
  • Depth of Cure
  • Cure Speed
  • Surface Cure

Arts and crafts by photopolymerization: Using Photopolymerization reactions to form, pattern and control LCEs for potential soft robotics applications

Tayler Hebner, Purdue University

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli-responsive polymers that are often programmed to undergo reversible deformation when exposed to heat or light. The deformations exhibited by these materials are a result of an order disruption between liquid crystalline mesogens incorporated in the polymer network. Programming complex modes of deformation in LCEs requires patterning of the alignment of the liquid crystalline mesogens, and crosslinks in the polymer network are often used to retain this alignment in the freestanding LCE. Notably, the properties of the crosslinked network are also correlated to actuation properties such as phase transition temperatures and deformation magnitude. Therefore, control of network topology in the crosslinking step enables control over the functional properties of the LCE. As such, photopolymerization is often used as a crosslinking step in LCE fabrication as it enables spatiotemporal control and many combinations of initiator and monomer components are available to tune final network structure. In this work, we specifically focus on thiol-acrylate photopolymerization for crosslinking in LCEs, which produces networks with pendant thiol groups and creates opportunities for post-functionalization of the material. We demonstrate that a secondary spatially-controlled photopolymerization step that leverages these pendant thiols enables patterning of complex deformations based on spatial discrepancies in crosslink density. In another instance, we show that secondary photopolymerization leveraging the pendant thiols enables lamination of LCEs with contrasting properties to produce snap-through actuation. Overall, these studies demonstrate that fundamental understanding and control over network formation via photopolymerization are powerful tools for complex and creative programming of LCE actuators.

Color- and Dose-Controlled Photocuring to Create Multimodulus Objects

Zachariah A Page, The University of Texas at Austin

Natural structures have evolved to integrate hard and soft materials in precise 3D configurations, imparting unique bulk properties and functionalities that remain challenging to replicate synthetically. The development of biomimetic analogs capable of seamlessly combining hard and soft materials offers vast potential for applications in fields such as soft robotics, sealants, and medical devices—including prosthetics and wearable health monitors. This demand has catalyzed the exploration of new chemistries and manufacturing methods. This presentation will highlight the ZAP research group’s efforts to address these challenges. We will discuss multicomponent resins that selectively respond to different wavelengths and intensities of light, enabling high-resolution, rapid 3D printing using digital light processing (DLP). The focus will be on the optimization of resin formulations and their influence on feature resolution, mechanical properties, and the creation of multimodulus structures.

Urethane Acrylate Formulations: Mechanical Property Modification via Multifunctional Monomers

Brian Dillman, IGM Resins USA Inc.

Using low modulus and low Tg aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomers as a formulation base tough starting point formulations are developed using multifunctional acrylate monomers as diluents. The equivalent weight, cutting power, and chemical structure of the monomer selected as a diluent determine the suitability of a given monomer in achieving workable viscosity levels and tough cured properties. The thermal transitions of the neat cured monomers of various types are discussed in detail and related to performance properties in the tough starting point formulations.

Scratch Resistant UV-curable Coating for Ophthalmic Lens Materials – Advantage of Dual cure Formulations

Abhijit Sarkar, Ultra Optics

UV Coatings have evolved to protect a broad range of substrates. Many ophthalmic lens laboratories apply a UV curable hard coating to the concave side of a lens that has been surfaced to prescription, or to the convex side of a lens when one or more treatments are to be performed on the lens substrate. One of the main performance characteristics required is excellent scratch and abrasion resistance. The degree of adhesion is contingent upon the chemical nature of both the lens surface and the coating composition, and the degree of adhesion may be measured immediately after cure and after ageing.

In this presentation, we will discuss the advantage of using dual cure formulation system to control the various properties of the final hard coat on the lens materials. The study will look at the compatibility of these products in a coating formulation as well as its impact on the scratch resistance measured by several common test methods. The results will provide a comparable overview of how these various technologies perform in improving scratch resistance of the UV coating.

IIoT, Industry 4.0, and AI: What Process Parameters Should I be Watching and Which Should I be Controlling?

Michael Bonner, Saint Clair Systems Inc

Every manufacturer is watching the “Industrial Internet of Things” (IIoT) or Industry 4.0 and, of course, Artificial Intelligence (AI). So, if you ask any expert, “What parameters should I actually be controlling?” you’ll often get a quick “All of them!” answer. It’s easy to say, but it isn’t practical.

Despite our ability to monitor every aspect of our environment and process, it comes with a cost. Besides the sensors themselves there’s the supporting network, the processing, the effort and energy costs. Ignoring these up front can result in some unpleasant surprises later.

Moreover, the hype and promise of AI has a powerful allure, which can only be realized if truly understood and carefully implemented – and when it comes to AI, data is king.

In this presentation we will:

  • define and contrast IIoT and Industry 4.0 and their ramifications to manufacturers.
  • discuss the potential for AI implementation in manufacturing and the requirements to make it successful.
  • identify the properties that are essential to monitor in the coating process.
  • identify the properties that are essential to control in the coating process.
  • describe the best practice to implementing data collection and control to leverage the future of AI.

”

Deploying AI & AI-Driven DOE in Real-Time at the Bench

Sasha Novakovich, Alchemy

AI and AI-driven DOE are finally being used in real-time at the bench by chemists and materials scientists, dramatically speeding product development and the overall pace of innovation.

But ask 10 people what AI is, and you will get 10 answers ranging from pure magic to it doesn’t work at all.

In this presentation we will:

  • Define AI for formulators covering the differences between Generative AI and Analytical AI
  • Discuss specific actions that can be taken to successfully deploy AI in real-time at the bench
  • See how a chemist can explore a problem space more broadly with fewer experiments
  • See how AI and AI-driven DOE can work synergistically to generate high predictive accuracy of technical and functional performance targets
  • Provide concrete success metrics that measure the accuracy of AI and operating impact

Once deployed, the business benefits of running AI at the bench are tremendous. It is reducing product development timelines, increasing market responsiveness, and accelerating time to revenue.

The presentation will conclude with case studies, so you can see examples of actual problems and how they were addressed with AI.

“

An Update on Mercury-Added Product Regulation

Jennifer Heathcote, GEW (EC) Limited

Global regulatory policies driven by REACH, RoHS, TSCA/Lautenberg Act, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury as well as regulatory bodies such as the European Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and UN Environment Programme are meant to reduce or eliminate anthropogenic mercury use. While complete mercury elimination is not possible today, restrictions and enforcement are expected to become stricter over time. As a result, legislation and policy should be carefully and periodically reviewed so that steps can be taken to ensure compliance.

This paper provides an update on leading global mercury regulations and explains the upcoming RoHS exemption renewal process for UV curing lamps. The most recent exemption for UV curing lamps is scheduled to expire in early 2027. The practicality of a total ban will be reviewed by the EU in 2026, and a recommendation will be made whether to renew the exemption for another five-year period or adopt a phase-out or phase-down schedule. While mercury-added products have been banned in the EU since 2003, UV curing lamps have been granted recurring exemption status due to the lack of technically feasible and economically viable alternatives across the full range of market applications.

Safer polymeric photoinitiator solutions for UV and UV LED curing in coatings & inks

Richard Plenderleith, Arkema

Radiation curing is often thought to be a more sustainable technology due to the reduced energy usage and near zero VOC emissions. Increasing regulation in applications such as food packaging can be a threat to the image of UV curing. As such, innovation of low hazard raw materials and upgrades to existing low hazard products to keep pace with the developing regulation is increasingly important. In this presentation we will investigate the future demands of the regulation and how products features should adapt to meet the future needs.

Updates to regulations in the United States and European Union and how these may impact radiation curable technologies

Shannon Gainey, JM Huber Corporation

The global regulatory landscape is dynamic, with new chemical regulations continually emerging not only at the federal level but also at various local and state levels. These regulations encompass a range of measures, including bans, restrictions, and new laws governing chemical control. Market entry requirements may now necessitate additional chemical registrations, further complicated by the growing influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) laws. These ESG laws, such as carbon taxes, plastics restrictions, and extended producer responsibility regulations, are gaining prominence and significantly impacting industries worldwide.
This presentation focuses on key developments within prominent regulatory frameworks like the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (EU-REACH) regulation, and analogous global chemical regulations. By shedding light on these regulatory changes, the presentation aims to offer valuable insights into potential implications specifically for radiation curable technologies including how current and future restrictions and/or ESG requirements may drive changes in these markets. Tailored for both technical and regulatory professionals, the goal is to provide high-level overviews of some of the major regulatory activities in key regions, offering a comprehensive understanding of their potential effects supply chain.

Global Regulatory Updates and Their Impacts on Research and Development in UV/EB Technology

Veronica Marrero, TotalSDS

In 2024 and 2025, significant global regulatory updates—including OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) 2024 and GHS Revisions 7 and 8—will dramatically affect safety data sheet (SDS) requirements, chemical classification, and labeling for hazardous materials. These changes have far-reaching implications for UV/EB technology companies engaged in research and development, product stewardship, and regulatory compliance. The updates introduce new hazard categories, reclassification of flammable gases and aerosols, and requirements for SDS formatting and digital access.

This presentation will provide an in-depth analysis of the regulatory changes, focusing on how they impact safety, compliance, and product innovation for industries utilizing UV/EB technology. Attendees will learn practical strategies for updating SDSs, managing supply chain communications, and ensuring product stewardship to comply with evolving regulations. By understanding these updates, R&D teams can optimize their formulations and technical processes while ensuring regulatory compliance, driving both innovation and safety. This session will offer actionable insights for EHS managers, chemists, and regulatory professionals, equipping them with the knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape.

This abstract highlights the intersection of regulation and industry needs, emphasizing the role of regulatory knowledge in supporting innovation.

Continuous Monitoring of UV with a Sensor System: What is new?

Pradyumna K (PK) Swain, Ph.D., EIT 2.0 LLC

Continuous monitoring of UV sources is the only way to provide instant feedback of changing UV conditions. Compact optical sensors are an excellent option in applications where space is limited, also providing an economic safeguard if the value of the product is high. The primary challenges with implementing any continuous monitoring system is threefold:

  1. Developing and producing a sensor system that is easy to install, stable and long lasting in a (surviving 24/7) hostile environment of a UV source/chamber
  2. Providing an architecture that can gather the signals from the sensor(s) and can communicate in a useful way to the existing UV system
  3. Designing a system that is easy to integrate into an established (retrofit) or new production line

This presentation will review the next generation of continuous monitoring sensors for industrial curing and germicidal applications in various high-intensity UV environments, including initial case studies and latest improvements.

2D Irradiance Profiling: Improving Process Control Efficiently and Reliably

Darrin Leonhardt, Ph.D, EIT 2.0 LLC

Measurement at one point of a UV broadband or LED source has been the accepted standard in the UV curing industry, providing a single measurement across an entire substrate regardless of its width. It is assumed that the source is uniform across all areas from a solitary measurement point. What if you were able to just as easily measure in 5, 10 or 15 locations across the substrate in one pass in an easy to use instrument? This presentation will introduce a calibrated radiometer that simultaneously collects the data from the multiple sensors and provides a 2D map along the light source through a custom, easy to use analysis application. Irradiance drops between adjacent light sources, electrically failed LED modules and improperly performing discharge lamp are easily identified and can then be addressed before production issues arise. This presentation will review the initial test results and findings of different sources using a multi-sensor irradiance profiler.

Using In-situ TJ Measurement to Improve Lifetime Projections and Reduce UV-LED Product Cost and Size

Jeff Hulett, Vektrex

UV LED products must operate for a specified lifetime while maintaining a minimum power output. To ensure these specifications are met, product designers typically rely on datasheet values for thermal resistance and calculate the nominal operating junction temperature (TJ) of the LED. LM-80 projections corresponding to this temperature are then used to estimate performance over the specified lifetime.

However, this industry-standard approach faces several challenges: 1) the product’s solder attachment may differ from the one used to calculate the datasheet’s thermal resistance (Rth), 2) the solder point temperature measurement may be inaccurate, and 3) in-situ thermocouple attachment may be difficult or impossible. These challenges increase the uncertainty in estimating the operating TJ.
To address this uncertainty, designers often build in safety margins by enlarging heatsinks, adding more LEDs to reduce drive currents, or lowering the product’s lifetime or power claims. While effective, these mitigation strategies are costly—they increase product size and cost, and they reduce the product’s competitiveness in the market.

This paper presents a measurement system and technique that offers a superior alternative: accurately measure the operating TJ in-situ, under real operating conditions, and optimize the product design using real data rather than estimates.

Redefining Aerospace & Defense Production: Bladeless Centrifugal Technology with Potential for UV+EB Integration

Matthew Gross, FlackTek

In aerospace and defense manufacturing, innovation is critical to meet the increasing demands for precision, speed, and scalability in mission-critical applications. FlackTek™’s bladeless centrifugal mixing technology, in collaboration with Anduril Industries, has transformed solid rocket motor production by achieving a 24x improvement in throughput and drastically reducing processing times. This breakthrough in materials processing allows for safer, more efficient production while maintaining the stringent quality standards necessary for defense systems.

Although our core technology focuses on centrifugal mixing, the precision and scalability it offers have broader implications for other advanced materials processing techniques, including UV+EB technologies. As the aerospace and defense sectors increasingly turn to UV-curable coatings, adhesives, and composites for their lightweight and durable properties, the integration of FlackTek’s technology opens new opportunities for optimizing these processes. Our mixers ensure repeatability and consistency, which are essential when these materials undergo further treatment with UV+EB curing, unlocking the potential for faster production times and enhanced material performance.

Color-changing Paints Enabled by Photoresponsive Combinations of Bio-inspired Colorants and Semiconductors

Daniel J. Wilson, Northeastern University

Modern paints and coatings are designed for applications ranging from fine art to extraterrestrial thermal control. These systems can be engineered to provide lasting color, but there are a limited number of materials that can undergo transient changes in their visual appearance in response to external stimuli without requirements for advanced fabrication strategies.  We describe color-changing coating formulations that leverage the redox-dependent absorption profile of xanthommatin, a small-molecule colorant found throughout biological systems, and the electronic properties of titanium dioxide, a ubiquitous whitening agent in commercial coatings. This combination yields reversible photoreduction upon exposure to sunlight, shifting from the oxidized (yellow) form of xanthommatin to the reduced (red) state.  The extent of photoreduction is dependent on the loading density and size of titanium dioxide particles, generating changes in hue angle as large as 77% upon irradiation. The functional materials in these coatings can be blended with non-responsive supplemental colorants to expand the accessible color palette, and irradiated through masks to create transient, disappearing artwork. These formulations demonstrate energy-efficient photochromism using a simple combination of a redox-active dye and metal oxide semiconductor, highlighting the utility of these materials for the development of optically dynamic light-harvesting materials.

Innovative Lignin-Based Coatings: From Extraction to Sustainable Performance

Véronique Landry, Université Lavalty

Lignins are polymers predominantly sourced from wood and bark, where it is present in substantial quantities. In contrast to cellulose, lignins still have limited avenues for valorization and are typically subjected to incineration for energy production. In this project, we extracted lignins from sugar maple and red oak barks through an organosolv process. Various properties of the extracted lignins, including its glass transition temperature, molecular weight, and the nature and concentration of hydroxyl (OH) groups, were then studied.

Following the extraction and characterization, the organosolv lignins were modified via two chemical reactions, acrylation and acetoacetylation, with the objective of replacing the OH groups with acrylate and malonate groups, respectively. The modified lignins were then employed to develop both single-cure (Michael addition reaction) and dual-cure coatings (Michael addition reaction and photopolymerization). Initially, coatings were prepared using the modified lignins through Michael addition polymerization. Subsequently, dual-cure coatings that integrated both Michael addition and photopolymerization techniques were developed. Mechanical properties, including hardness and scratch resistance, as well as the optical properties, such as color and gloss, of the coatings were developed.

This presentation will focus on the synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of these innovative lignin-based coatings, highlighting their potential as sustainable alternatives in the coatings industry. Furthermore, acrylated lignins demonstrate significant potential for integrating renewable resources into advanced polymer networks, offering a pathway toward high-performance, bio-based materials.

Presentation Title TBA

Caroline Szczepanski, Michigan State University

Coming Soon.