Energy Curable Glossary
- Acrylate:
- Chemical materials, usually monomers and oligomers, which contain the grouping CH2=CHC-O-.
- Adhesion:
- The state in which two surfaces are held together by interfacial forces which may consist of valence forces or interlocking action or both.
- Aromatic Ketone:
- A group of chemical materials, most of which are sensitive to light and readily form free radicals. The structure is ArCOR (Ar). Some of these are useful as photoinitiators.
- Catalyst:
- Any material which aids in completion of a chemical reaction without itself becoming part of the product.
- Crosslinking Agent:
- A reactive chemical which will form bonds between other molecules in a formulation.
- Cure:
- Conversion of a material from a raw state to a finished and useful condition by chemical reaction.
- Dark Reaction:
- Reactions which can take place in a closed container of energy curable materials. Usually considered premature polymerization.
- Defocused System:
- A curing system in which the substrate is positioned either closer to or farther away than a focal distance.
- Doped Lamps:
- The specific wavelengths emitted from a UV lamp are dependent upon the fill. Using mercury vapor is the norm. The spectral output can be changed by adding dopants such as beryllium or iron.
- Dose:
- Energy absorbed per unit mass. Usually listed in Megarads (million rads).
- Electron Beam:
- A beam of charged electrons displaced from a metallic filament by a high voltage source.
- Epoxy Group:
-
A reactive part of a chemical molecule with the structure 
- Extractables:
- Any material which can be removed from a cured film by solvents, usually measured as a weight difference.
- Flash Xenon (Pulsed Xenon):
- Lamp containing xenon gas which produces UV energy using a special electrical transformer system.
- Flexibility:
- The ability of a material to twist, bend or otherwise distort.
- Focal Distance:
- The distance from a lamps reflector at which peak energy can be obtained.
- Free Radical:
- A reactive species having an unpaired electron which initiates a reaction with a double bond. It is produced from its stable paired state by energy absorption.
- Gelation Point:
- The point at which a liquid forms a semi-solid system.
- Glass Transition Temperature:
- The temperature at which a material changes from a soft, rubbery state to a more brittle state.
- Grind:
- The dispersion of particles (usually pigments) in a coating or ink.
- Hardness:
- The property of a material to resist indentation and scratching.
- Heat Cure (Thermal Cure):
- A curing reaction which takes place when materials are subjected to a form of heat.
- Inert Atmosphere:
- The blanketing (usually from air) with a nonreactive (inert) gas, commonly nitrogen.
- Megarad or Mrad:
- One Mrad equals one million rads. The megarad is the term used to describe the dose of radiation given.
- Mercury Lamp:
- Lamp in which light is generated through the presence of mercury vapor. Most UV lamps are mercury vapor lamps.
- Microwave:
- Energy having wavelengths between 1 and 10 millimeters.
- Monomer:
- A molecule of relatively low molecular weight capable of combining with itself or other similar molecules to form a polymer.
- Nanometer:
- A unit of distance commonly used in measuring wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.
- Oligomers:
- A lower molecular weight resin or polymer which is used in a energy curable formula.
- Oxygen Inhibitor:
- The effect of oxygen to terminate or retard the rate of polymerization.
- Ozone:
- A form of oxygen that occurs when high energy electrical discharge is present: O3.
- Photoinitiator:
- A molecule which when exposed to a specific wavelength of energy forms a reactive species which starts the chain reaction to cause polymer formation.
- Photosensitizer:
- A chemical which will transfer energy and form free radicals by interacting with another chemical.
- Plasticizer:
- A compound added to increase flexibility and toughness of the final product.
- Polymerization:
- A chemical reaction usually carried out with a catalyst, heat or energy in which two or more reactively simple compounds combine to form a macromolecule.
- Post Cure:
- Continuation of reactions of materials in the ink or coating, after exposure to energy has ceased.
- Reactive Diluent:
- A chemical which serves two purposes in a formulation. Thinning or viscosity reduction and providing reactivity with other ingredients.
- Shelf Life:
- The amount of time a material may be stored under specified conditions with no significant change in properties.
- Stabilizers:
- Additives to inks or coatings formulations which help to extend shelf life, resistance to heat or other degradation.
- Surface Slip:
- The ability and ease of sliding of the surface of one material over the surface of another.
- Thixotropy:
- A property of a liquid whereby its viscosity decreases upon application of shear and increase when shear is removed.
- Through Cure:
- The curing of the bulk of a material down to and including the material substrate interface as opposed to a surface cure where only the material/air interface is cured.
- Ultraviolet Light:
- The light emitted in the 200 - 400 nanometer wavelength range.
- Ultraviolet Black Light:
- Ultraviolet light built to operate at low power using a low pressure lamp.
- Window:
- A metallic foil in an electron beam generating unit that allows passage of energetic electrons from the beam.
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