�
Plastic Effective and fast drying process
Modern cars, computers and electronic equipment contain many plastic components. Gear sticks, keyboards and touch pads are printed and coated with a protective lacquer or metallised coating.
An increase in the production speed can be achieved by the use of infrared. Infrared transfers large amounts of energy in a very short time, significantly reducing drying times.
In addition, an infrared system helps to save energy, as unlike a conventional oven, it can be switched on immediately when heat is required.
Every coating process is different but
all processes share the common require-
ments of the highest possible quality
and the fastest possible drying of the
coating. With standard heat sources
this is often no longer possible.
In the drying of coatings it has already
been proven, that infrared radiation can
penetrate to the required depth in the
coating system and to dry the coating
film from inside outwards. Skin- or
blister-formation on the surface is
prevented and drying of the coating
is speeded up. The result is a brilliant
surface quality that meets specification.
Infrared energy, which is matched
precisely with the product and coating,
is quickly converted into heat, water
or other solvents are evaporated, while
the material and the local environment
remain cool.
�
Bitumen on membrane
Foto
: And
erso
n
Foil coating
Foto
: API
foils
PVC-coated laminate
Foto
: Cov
a
Protective lacquer on keyboards
Foto
: Kes
trel
PET coating
Foto
: Ch
erry
Water-based coating on car bumpers
Foto
: Hon
da
�
Coating of saw blades
Metals Brilliant Surface Quality through the best matching
In drying coated components, production bottlenecks are often created. The existing drying ovens can be extended to increase the production speed, so that the components can be passed through more quickly. However, this solution is often precluded because of space considerations.
Another measure is to increase the power of the existing oven. This is where infrared technology offers a real alternative, with high power infrared emitters and systems, which can be easily accommodated into existing plant because of their compact design.
Protective coating on signs
Foto
: Haw
es S
igns
Coating of tubes
�
Coil coating
Metal finish coating
Foto
: SSK
Coating on 3-D cylinders
Foto
: Che
ster
field
Cyli
nder
s
Coating of compressor housings
Foto
: Wei
sste
chni
k
Aluminium profiles
Foto
: Pie
sslin
ger
BoosterProduction bottlenecks often occur as a result of tougher production demands, where the existing drying system can no longer keep pace. This can often be solved by an infrared booster section, which is positioned in front of the existing drying system. The booster section rapidly brings the product up to temperature allowing line speeds to be increased accordingly.
For some products this can equate to savings of up to 50 % of the time required to dry or cure the coating.
Powder CoatingsInfrared heating technology can significantly speed up the melting of powder coatings. Powder is a very good absorber of infrared energy which allows the powder to flow or cure in times that are significantly shorter than with conventional ovens.
With no air circulation dust inclusions are removed and quality problems arising from powder being “blown” of the surface of the part are eliminated. Rapid melting of the powder improves the quality of finish and allows line speed to be increased.
Foto
: SAS
Water-based Coatings – the right wavelengthIt is important to match the infrared emitter to the absorption characteristics of the coating or substrate being dried. Water absorbs energy predominantly in the medium wave (2–4 microns) portion of the infrared spectrum. In com-parison short wave or near infrared energy (0.7–2 microns) has a much lower efficiency resulting in more energy being used to achieve the same level of drying.
All Carbon infrared emitters CIR® combine effective medium wave radiation with high surface power density and accelerate the efficient drying of water-based paints, inks and coatings.
Comprehensive tests have shown that carbon emitters dry water-soluble coatings significantly more efficiently than short wave or near infrared emitter. A carbon infrared emitter uses up to 30 % less energy for the same drying process compared to conventional short wave or near infrared emitters.
Adhesives on printed products
Foto
: Abb
ey
Personalised mailings
Foto
: Let
ters
hop
Wallpapers with a polyvinyl coating
Foto
: New
moo
r
We come across paper every day. Newspapers, mail shots and serviettes as well as wallpapers and filters are manufactured from paper which are then printed or coated as required. With the correct selection of infrared emitters, coatings on paper can be dried in a targeted manner so that sensitive paper products suffer no heat damage.
During the production of tray mats for aircrafts a high quality non-slip coating is applied and dried using Carbon medium wave infrared.
Mail shots can be personalized using either laser- or ink-jet printers. These inks are completely dried by carbon emitters before the letters, prospectuses or publicity material is cut, folded or glued, according to the specific requirements.
�
Paper Effective Radiation with high surface power density
�
Drying adhesive
Foto
: Man
ches
ter P
rint
Coating of paper used in food packaging
Paper filters
Foto
: Loc
ker
Anti-slip coating on paper mats
Foto
: Orv
ec
�
TextilesModern Production to the Highest Quality
Water-repellent coating on materials for outdoor clothing
Today’s textiles for sport or for working clothes often feature water-repellent and breathable coatings. These coatings need to be dried quickly. High quality technical textiles must be perfectly fixed. Other fabrics are laminated, embossed or formed to suit the requirements of the customer.
Infrared heat helps to modernise production and improve quality. Medium wave infrared energy can heat up water faster than the fabric, preventing damage to the substrate.
Carbon infrared systems can also be fitted in front of Stenters to achieve the required degree of pre-drying. The very fast response of carbon emitters also ensures that there is no damage to the coated fabric in the event of a sudden machine stoppage.
The use of these optimized fabric drying techniques reduce reject rates and increase production speeds.
Latex on carpet
Foto
: Wilt
on
Venetian blinds
Foto
: Liv
ing
Conn
ectio
ns
Airbags for vehicles
Foto
: Airb
ag In
tern
atio
nal
�
Cloth-Coating with neoprene and silicon
Needle-punched materials – Powder coating
10
Ceramics and GlassEffective and energy-saving in the process
Glass is coated for many different applications. Screen printing on car windscreens, powder coatings on champagne bottles, dirt-repellent coatings on shower cabinets or mirrors – infrared heat dries and cures. Heraeus Infrared can be perfectly matched with the specific process.
Protective coating on roof tiles Fo
to: R
edla
nd
Protective coating on brake pads
Foto
: Fed
eral
Mog
ul
Screen printing on car windscreens
Glass coating
Coating bottlesFo
to: W
eiss
tech
nik
Foto
: Pilk
ingt
on
Infrared heat makes many industrial processes more effi cient and reliable. In addition to the applications already demonstrated in this brochure, there are many more, including:
• Drying of fl ux coatings on radiators• Drying of coatings on engine blocks• Drying of book-binding adhesives• Drying of water-based adhesives
on cigarette papers• Drying of slab coatings• Drying of stone chip protective
coatings on car components• Activating of glues and adhesives• Drying of adhesives on chipboard• Curing of powder coatings
on mdf sheets
Could infrared help to make your process better? Talk to us!
Our thanks for the information and photographic material to:• Abbey/UK • Airbag International/UK• Anderson/UK • API Foils/UKBritish Steel/UK • Carnaud/UKCherry Electrical Products/UKChesterfi eld Cylinders/UKCova Products/UK • Hawes Signs/UKHonda/UK • Kestrel/UK • Klinger/UKLiving Connections/UK • Locker Filtration/UK • Manchester Print/UK MFI/UK • Newmoor/UK • Orvec International/UK • Piesslinger/Austria Pilkington/UK • Redland Tiles/UK R-Tek/UK • Saunderson Furniture/UK SAS/UK • SSK/UK • The Lettershop Group/UK • Weisstechnik/Belgium Wilton/UK
Special Applications
Wood is treated with a wide range of coatings. Undercoats, lacquers or powders need to be dried as quickly as possible without detriment to the wood. Powder coating on mdf (medium density fi bre boards) sheets must be gelled very quickly while the sheets of compressed wood should remain as cool as possible.
Infrared heat dries much faster than conventional methods. Radiation, which is precisely matched to the coating, is quickly converted into heat. The material and the surroun-dings remain cool. As a result, better quality of product is achieved, and the wood is made available for further processing more quickly, leading to savings in time and money.
Adhesive on chipboard
Furniture panels
Foto
: Sau
nder
son
Furn
itur
Activating adhesive on plywood and particle wood materials
Foto
: R-T
ek
Wood Fast and sensitive processing
1111
Foto
: MFI
We reserve the right to change the pictures and technical data of this brochure. 0208 HNG-B 57 E 5C
Germany
Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
Reinhard-Heraeus-Ring 7
63801 Kleinostheim
Phone +49 (6181) 35-8545
Fax +49 (6181) 35-168410
www.heraeus-noblelight.de/infrarot
Great Britain
Heraeus Noblelight Ltd.
Unit 1 Millennium Court
Clayhill Industrial Estate
Buildwas Road
Neston, Cheshire CH64 3UZ
Phone +44 (151) 353 2710
Fax +44 (151) 353 2719
www.heraeus-noblelight.com/infrared
USA
Heraeus Noblelight LLC
2150 Northmont Parkway, Suite L
Duluth, GA 30096
Phone +1 (770) 418-0707
Fax +1 (770) 418-0688
www.noblelight.net
France
Heraeus Noblelight
12, av. du Québec – Bât I 2
B.P. 630 Villebon
91945 Courtaboeuf Cedex
Phone +33 (169) 18 48 36
Fax +33 (169) 28 82 43
www.heraeus-noblelight.com/infrared
China
Heraeus Noblelight (Shenyang). Ltd.
4F, 11th Building,
No. 99 Tianzhou Rd.,
Shanghai, 200233
Telefon +86 (21) 5445 2255
Telefax +86 (21) 5445 2410
www.heraeus-noblelight.cn
Australia
Heraeus Amba Australia Pty.Ltd.
Office Sydney 4 Vera St
2508 Helensburg NSW
Phone +61 (2) 4294 4682
www.heraeus-noblelight.com.au