Electron Beam Curing Inks

These inks eliminate the need for large baking ovens for traditional paints and inks.

Electron beam curing inks.

The technology possesses inherent advantages over solvent and water based materials as well. Growth of the electron beam curable ink market is driven by low processing cost as compared to the uv technology. A type of photo reactive vehicle ink that dries or sets with the application of a beam of electrons in a manner similar to that of ultraviolet curing ink. Duplicate samples were eb cured in air and also using nitrogen inerting 200 ppm oxygen.

Energy sciences inc is the world leader in low energy electron beam solutions. Like uv curing eb curing is not a new technology. The eb curing ink vehicle is composed of fluid oligomer s and monomer s that when exposed to a beam of high energy electrons release free radical s that cause the polymerization of the vehicle which hardens to a dry ink film containing the pigment. When exposed to a beam of high energy electrons the fluid oligomers and monomers release free radicals that cause curing of the ink.

In fact it s been used in web offset printing for decades. Recent advances in electron beam curing chemistry and equipment encourage the increased use of this type of material in flexible packaging applications. Energy curing use in packaging decoration and protection has been in place since the first commercial run of uv ultraviolet light curing inks and coatings in 1969. Samples were attached to a moving carrier web and exposed with an eb dose of 30 kgy.

Esi pioneers the low voltage eb market. Electron beam curing produces a finish similar to that of traditional solvent evaporation processes but achieves that finish through a polymerization process. Eb technology is used in flexible packaging and folding carton packaging to cure inks coatings and laminating adhesives. Eb flexo inks require less upfront capital cost no interstation dryers and no solvent capture destruction or regulatory expenses.

Following uv curing the ink films were further cured with a broadbeam ep series electron beam unit operating at 125 kv. Uv inks fall into a category generally called energy cured inks and there is a related ink technology that can offer the same benefits as uv while eliminating some of the downsides. That technology is called electron beam eb or e beam curing. Electron beam curing ink.

Electron beam curable ink is formulated with reactive solvents oligomers and additives to provide color gloss and levelling properties. Solvent free ultraviolet light uv and electron beam eb inkjet inks cure incredibly fast when exposed to a uv or eb source.