Frequently Asked Questions
Cure
Q: How do I measure cure?
A: Laboratories measure the degree of conversion of the UV material. This requires a specialized instrument costing tens of thousands of dollars. Fortunately, this degree of conversion correlates to the mechanical properties of the cured material. The UV materials supplier has formulated its product to have specific mechanical properties at the desired degree of conversion. Check with your supplier for their recommendations on which mechanical properties you should test and how they should be tested.
Q: My UV system worked well when I got it, but now I can't cure at the speeds I used to - what’s wrong?
A: Since you were able to cure before, something has changed. This first place to start is the UV lamp. Check the reflectors - they should be shiny. Check the lamp the quartz tube should be clear. Clean the reflector and lamp with isopropyl alcohol and replace if you can't remove the residue. Any build up on the quartz tube or reflectors can block UV and significantly degrade the curing ability of the lamp. If this doesn't solve the problem, some other part of your process has changed. Check to see what is not the same as when you were curing well. Get your UV materials and equipment suppliers involved to help you if you can't find the cause.
UV Lamps
Q: How do I dispose of UV lamps?
A: UV lamps contain mercury and their disposal is covered by Federal and State regulations. Those lamps cannot be thrown in the trash. The end user has two alternatives for lamp disposal. One is to have a local hazardous waste hauler dispose of the lamps according to local regulations. The other is to send the lamps to a lamp recycler who will remove the mercury from the lamps and separate the components for re-use. This is the more environmentally friendly approach. You can learn more about lamp recycling at www.lamprecycle.org.
Q: Can I get a MSDS for my UV lamp?
A: Medium pressure mercury arc lamps (UV lamps) fall under the definition of an “Article” as defined in OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (29CFR 1910.1200) and are exempted from the MSDS requirement by that standard. Each UV lamp has approximately 10 grams or less of mercury contained inside the glass tube. Under normal conditions, workers handling the UV lamps will never come into contact with the mercury. In case of lamp breakage, the mercury can escape and should be cleaned up with sand or other absorbent material. This material must then be disposed of as hazardous waste.
