The energy curing industry has grown tremendously since its beginnings in the early 1970s, with the advantages of UV (ultraviolet) and electron beam (EB) technologies - low VOC and instantaneous curing, among others – driving continued growth in countless fields, including graphic arts, coatings, electronics, aerospace and much more.
 
To present the latest advances in the field of UV and EB curing, RadTech North America is holding its RadTech 2014 Technology Expo and Conference May 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. This biennial event is dedicated to the educational, technical and scientific advancement of ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) technologies.
 
This year’s conference features more than 80 presentations and a sold-out exhibition floor. Gray Cohen, RadTech North America’s executive director, said that early signs point to a strong program, with plenty of end users on hand to offer their insights into how UV and EB benefit their manufacturing processes. Among these companies are Nestle, Boeing, Motorola, Stratasys, Corning and Carestream.
 
“We have very interesting end users attending as well as presenting, representing a diverse cross section of manufacturing and technology,” Cohen said. “UV and EB technology continues to represent not only a way for current manufacturers to develop more efficient, cleaner processes, but as new processes and techniques are developed and new products designed, UV and EB are vital tools.
 
Cohen noted that the range of applications for UV/EB curing is quickly expanding into fields that were not even considered just a few years ago.
 
“We are seeing applications as varied as UV curable adhesives used in surgery, to the rapid, clean refinish of floors,” Cohen said. “Other areas of growth are phone and tablet displays, beer bottles, cosmetic packaging, airplanes, cars and train tracks. UV/EB is also enabling the growth in inkjet and 3D printing/additive manufacturing applications.
 
“The number of applications for UV/EB is remarkable and attributable to the fact that what we offer is a platform for technology development, with our materials offering the user significant control as they are cured in-situ,” Cohen added. “The growth of UV/EB is truly limited only by the imaginations of product developers.”
 
Cohen said that attendees can expect to see a number of highlights at RadTech 2014.
 
“We are excited to have Nestle back discussing food packaging, and a full day devoted to printing and packaging applications,” he noted. “The rapid emergence of UV LEDs will be spotlighted throughout the event, with a special global forum and road mapping session. We are also excited about our first-ever emphasis on Design Enabled by UV + EB Technology.”
 
End user sessions are another important highlight.
 
“End user sessions are featured in Field Applied Coatings, Plastics Decorating, and Pipe+Tube, in recognition of the growth in this market with oil and gas fracking and the contributions UV has to offer,” Cohen said. “We will also be looking at UV+PVD Systems as a chrome alternative for home, cosmetic and auto applications. UV PVD offers designers performance and environmental benefits, which cannot be matched
with legacy technology. This is in addition to our expansive technical conference featuring more than 80 papers, and our sold-out exhibition floor.”
 
RadTech 2014 will feature a wide range of technical sessions each day, beginning with “Introduction to the Basics of UV/ EB Curing,” presented by Mike J. Idacavage of PL Industries, a division of Esstech Inc.
 
Monday, May 12, 2014
Technical Conference Track A
Photoinitiator - 8 a.m. -10 a.m.
• Photopolymerization Using Photolatent Amine Catalysts - Allonas, University of Haute Alsace.
• Photoinitiating Covalently Bound Organically-Modified Clay Additives - T. Brian Cavitt, Abilene Christian University.
• Novel Phosphine Oxide Photoinitiators - Dr Petr Sehnal, Lambson Limited.
• New Photoinitiators for Cationic Photopolymerization Process of Monomers - Joanna Ortyl, Cracow University of Technology.
 
Electron Beam Polymerization - 10 a.m.-noon
• Depth/Dose Characterization of Electron-Beam Polymerization - Julie Jessop, University of Iowa.
• Modification of Polymer Surfaces using Electron Beam Induced Graft Copolymerization - Stephen C. Lapin, PCT Engineered System.
• Electron Beam Treatment of Wood Thermoplastic Composites - Andrew Palm, SUNY ESF
• Radiation Initiated Polymerization of Wood Impregnants - L.Scott Larsen, NYSERDA.
 
Metal - 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
• UV Technology for Protection of Surfaces - Ben Curatolo, Light Curable Coatings.
• Achieving Adhesion to Difficult Metal and Plastic Substrates - Dr. Mike J. Idacavage, PL Industries.
• New Amine Modified Polyether Acrylates with High Reactivity - Paul Share, BASF Corporation.
 
Electronics - 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Graphene Based UV-Curable Materials - Marco Sangermano, Politecnico di Torino.
• Develop a Hybrid Conductive Film With Primer - Nizamidin Jappar, Kimoto Tech Inc.
• Production of Stratified Films Utilizing Photopolymerization and Monomer Reactivity - C. Allan Guymon, University of Iowa.
 
Adhesives - 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
• High Performance Materials for Laminating Adhesives - Jin Lu, Sartomer USA LLC
• A Formulator’s Guide to Energy Curable Laminating Adhesives - Eileen Jaranilla-Tran, RAHN USA Corporation
• UV-triggered Thermosetting Film Adhesives - Don Herr, Adhesives Research, Inc.
• Light Curable Adhesives for Automotive and Electronic Applications and the Benefits of Surface Treatment - Jeff Leighty, Plasmatreat USA and Brian Betty, DELO Industrial Adhesives.
 
Technical Conference Track B
LED Formulation- 10 a.m.-noon
• New LED Photo-initiators: A Successful Story on LED Curing of Water-borne UV Furniture Coatings - David Zhigang Wang, Shenzhen UV- ChemTech.
• Pushing the Limits of LED Curing and Looking Forward to a Bright Future - Rodney P. Balmer or Dr.Grant T. Shouldice (TBD), Flint Group.
• A 100% Solids UV LED Curable Coating - Elena Komarova, Kegel LLC.
• UV-LED Photoinitiators – The Right Tool for the Job - Dr. Mike J. Idacavage, PL Industries, a division of Esstech Inc.
 
Formulating for Printing & Packaging - 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Developing Formable Properties in
Energy Curable Flexo Inks - Robert Kensicki, Sartomer
• Self-Curing Acrylate Resin for UV Consumer Product Printing and Coating Applications - Marc Heylen, Allnex USA, Inc
• Mitigating Chemicals of Concern Through the Usage of Novel Energy Curable Acrylate Technology - Anthony Carignano, Allnex USA, Inc. (Formerly Cytec Coating Resins)
• Novel Dual Function Photoinitiators for Low Migration and Low Odor Packaging Applications - Eugene V. Sitzmann, BASF Corporation
 
• Formulation- 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
• A Study for Enhancing Through Cure - Kenton Renkema, Red Spot.
• Formulation and Performance Advances in (Meth)Acrylate Based Sealants :A Dual Cure Feasibility Study - Michael Bailey, Sartomer USA, LLC.
• Shrinkage of UV Oligomers and Monomers - Andreas Moeck, RadLab AG.
• Dual UV Curing System Using a Dimethacrylate Containing a Chalcone Moiety - Haruyuki Okamura, Osaka Prefecture University.
 
Special Sessions Track C
New Product Debut- 10 a.m.-noon (free to all attendees)
• Presentation by Allnex USA Inc. - Allnex USA Inc.
• Custom Formulations for UV/ Vis Curing with Low/No Oxygen Inhibition - Neil Cramer, Colorado Photopolymer Solution.
• DKSH Offers Global Products and Services to the UV/EB Curing Industry - Bob Pastore, DKSH North America, Inc.
• Presentation by Dymax Corporation - Dymax Corporation.
• Presentation by Energy Sciences, Inc. - Energy Sciences Inc.
• Excimer Lamps for Photochemical Surface Modification and Cleaning - Blythe Occhipinti, Hamamatsu Corporation.
• Introduction of UV/EB Curable Speciality Monomers and Oligomers for Various Applications - Woogeun Kim, Miwon Specialty Chemical Co., Ltd.
• Presentation by Netzsch Instruments North America - Dr. Robert Pieper, Netzsch Instruments North America, LLC.
• Multi-Functional EB Equipment Design - Karl Swanson, PCT Engineered Systems.
• Presentation By Qualipoly Chemical Corp. - Dr. Chih-Hsiang Tsai, Qualipoly Chemical Corp.
• New UV Curable Diluents and Monomers - Mark Smith, San Esters.
• New UV/EB Solutions for 2014 - Sartomer Americas.
• Novel Visible Light Cationic Photoinitiators and Their Uses in Microlithography and Related Applications - Spectra Group Limited, Inc.
• Presentation by Philips Lumileds Lighting Company - Philips Lumileds Lighting Company.
• Presentation by Carestream - Carestream.
 
UV Industrial Inkjet / Digital Printing- 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Who, What and How of Digital Printing - Roy Pagan, Durst.
• UV Inkjet, an Emerging Industrial Market - Rich Baker, Integrity Industrial Ink Jet Integration, LLC.
• New Applications for UV Inkjet Inks on Existing Flexo Presses - Muslim Contractor, Collins Inkjet. Kenji Suzuki.
• 3D Printing with UV: Prototypes and Production - Dene Taylor, SPF-Inc.
 
UV LED Measurement- 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
• Presentation & Working Discussion with NIST.
 
Special Sessions Track D
Design Enabled by UV + EB Technology- 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
• The Decorative and Functional Finishing Possibilities with UV-Cured Powder Coating
Michael Knoblauch, Keyland Polymer.
• Opportunities for Functional Design Using Physical Vapor Deposition and UV Curable Coatings - Jason Eich, Red Spot.
• Empowering Design & Product Development with Additive Manufacturing - Zehavit Reisin, Stratasys CW.
 
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
 
Technical Conference Track A
Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing - 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
• The Benefits of UV Curable Materials in Additive Manufacturing - Jonathan Shaw, Allnex USA Inc.
• Advanced Applications of Thiol-Ene Formulations - Samuel Clark Ligon, Vienna University of Technology.
• Three Decades of UV Technology Innovation - Stereolithography - Kangtai Ren, DSM Functional Materials.
• Made Strong: Product Development and Additive Manufacturing - Shanon Marks, Made Boars & Christopher Houlshouser, Stratasys.
 
Equipment - 10 a.m.-noon
• Photocuring in Areas Where You Typically Cannot Get Light - Paul J. Shustack, Corning Inc.
• High Efficiency LED Lighting Circuit by Series Regulator System - Kota Okajima, Kanazawa Institute of Technology.
• UV Measurements of MP Lamps and LEDs for Process Design and Control - R.W. Stowe, Heraeus Fusion UV, Inc.
• Development in Low Voltage EB Curing for High Product Throughput Applications - Im Rangwalla, Energy Sciences Inc.
   
Waterborne - 1 p.m.- 3 p.m.
• Waterborne UV Curable Coatings for Industrial Market Segments - Raymond Stewart, Bayer MaterialScience LLC.
• Novel Robust Energy-Curable Polyurethane Dispersion With High Formulation Versatility - Jason Ghaderi, Allnex.
 
Medical & Dental - 3 p.m.- 5 p.m.
• Recent Advances In Monomers And Photoinitiators For Dental Restoratives - Christian Gorsche, Vienna University of Technology.
• An Overview on Low Cytotoxic Alternatives to (Meth)Acrylates: Vinyl Esters and Vinyl Carbonates - Branislav Husar, Vienna University of Technology.
• The Technical Challenges of Transitioning your UV Curing Process from Lamp to LED - Mike Kay, Excelitas Technology.
 
Technical Conference Track B
Bio-engineering - 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
• Photopolymerized Micropatterned Platforms with Varied Mechanical Properties for Contact Guidance - Brad Tuft, University of Iowa.
• Physical Properties of Photopolymers in Ocular Regenerative Scaffolds - Kristan S. Worthington, The University of Iowa.
• High Performance Hybrid UV Curing Soy-Bean Systems - Hongbo Liang, University of Colorado at Boulder and Nanchang Hangkong University.
• Bio-Based Succinic Acid as a Building Block for UV Curable Coatings - Michael Mang, Myriant Corporation.
 
Bio-based Materials - 10 a.m.-noon
• Next Generation of UV-curable Cellulose Esters - Ahmet Nebioglu, Dymax Corporation.
• Bio-based Building Blocks for Advanced Photo-cure Coating Systems - Vijay Mannari, Eastern Michigan University.
• High Performance UV-Curable PUDs with High Renewable Carbon Content - Jeffrey Klang, Sartomer USA.
• Cardanol-based Branched UV-cured Acrylic Oligomers - Jiangnan University, Ren Liu.
 
Advanced Materials - 1 p.m.- 3 p.m.
• Nanostructured Polymer Networks Obtained by Photopolymerization in a LLC Template - Celine Baguenard, The University of Iowa.
• Anti-Glare and anti-UV Glass Developed by Interpenetrating Hybrid Network - Liang Liang, Guardian Industrial Corporation.
• Fluoro-Silicones in UV Cured Coatings Films - Tom Seung-Tong Cheung, Siltech Corporation.
• 1K UV- A Automotive Refinish; Clear Coats and Primers - Michael Dvorchak, Allnex USA Inc.
   
Advanced Applications - 3 p.m.- 5 p.m.
• Self-Wrinkling to Bioinspired Patterned Surface of Photo-Curing Coating - Xuesong Jiang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
• Surface Modifying Additive for UV Curable Hardcoat - Akpojotor Shemi, Daikin American Inc.
• New Developments in Initiators for Two-photon Polymerization - S. Clark Ligon, Vienna University of Technology.
• 1K UV- A Hard Coats for Polycarbonate Head Light Refinishing - Michael Dvorchak, Allnex USA Inc.
 
Special Sessions Track C
Plastics Decorating – 10 a.m.-noon
• UV Curing Solutions for Coatings on Plastics - Kevin Joesel, Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV Inc.
• Decorating Plastic Substrates 101 and How Utilizing UV Curing Can Benefit the Process - Steven Hatkevich, American Trim.
• Finishing Technology for Consumer Electronics: A Manufacturer’s Perspective - James Wrezel, Bing Diao, and Sarah Severson, Motorola.
• A New Process for UV Powder Coating Plastics - Kevin Biller, PCR Group and Jeff Leighty, Plasmatreat USA.
 
Field Applied Coatings – 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Advances in Raw Materials for UV Field Applied Applications - JoAnn Arceneaux, Allnex USA.
• Field Applied Coatings in the Facility Management Industry - Pete Rowan, Pro-Guard Coatings.
• Equipment Advances - Daniel Dayon, HID Systems.
• Curing UVA Field Applied Coatings - Bob Bonham, H&S Autoshot.
• Site Applied UV Coating in a Hospital Environment: A Case Study - George Aslan, Aslan & Company, Inc.
 
Special Sessions Track D
Printing + Packaging: Sustainability & Sensitive Applications – 10 a.m.-noon
• Food Packaging Safety and Risk Management - Robert Bowling, Nestle USA.
• Sustainability in the Printing Supply Chain - Doreen M. Monteleone, RadTech.
• Bio-Renewable Materials for Food Packaging - Tony Carignano, Allnex.
• Food Contact Burden - Challenge, Chance or Collapse for Radiation Curing? - Paul Share, BASF Corporation.
 
Printing + Packaging: Overview of New Technologies in UV/EB For Printing & Packaging – 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Trends in Radiation Curing for Graphics Arts and Packaging: a View to 2019 - Adam Page, Smithers Pira.
• Differentiating Your Brand with Cool UV/EB Coatings, Inks, and Substrates - Mark Bohan, Vice President, Printing Industries of America.
• Digital Inkjet for Consumer Product Packaging - Dene Taylor, SPF Inc.
• The Cure for a Changing Industry - Jeffrey Hernandez, Classic Color.
 
 
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
 
Technical Conference Track A
Wood - 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
• UV-Cured Powder Coating : The Development of a High Gloss Coating for MDF - Michael Knoblauch, Keyland Polymer.
• Waterborne UV Coatings for Industrial Wood Applications - Laurie Morris, Alberdingk Boley, Inc.
• Comparing UV Cured Wood Floor Finishes to Conventional 2K Systems - David Folkman, Alberdingk-Boley.
• Advancements in UV LED Curing for Wood Coatings - Ed Kiyoi, Phoseon Technology.
   
Measurement & Analysis – 10 a.m.-noon
• Produce a Temperature-Sensitivity film Coated on the Glass via Photopolymerization - Jun Nie, Beijing University of Chemical Technology.
• Comparison a Blue Diode Laser with a Mercury Arc Lamp in the Curing of a Water-Soluble Resin - Pamela Shapiro, Netzsch Instruments, LLC.
• The Importance of Controlling Coating Temperature in UV Application Processes - Michael R. Bonner, Saint Clair Systems, Inc.
• Synthesis and Properties of UV-Curable Polyurethane Acrylates Based on Pcdl Diols - Jingcheng Liu, Jiangnan University.
 
Global Market Overview - 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
• North American UV/EB Market Overview - Gary Cohen, RadTech International, North America.
• Markets Overview and Progress of UV/EB Curing Technology in China - Jianwen Yang, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
• European Market UV/EB Overview - David Helsby, RAHN Corporation.
• India : UV/EB Market Potential - Ankit Singhal, SIMCO Materials International Pvt Ltd.
 
Technical Conference Track B
Chemistry - 8 a.m.-10 a.m.
• Directed Oligomer Structure By Controlled Radical Polymerization For Use In Photocurable Thin Films - Jon Paul Scholte, University of Iowa.
• Study on “Core-shell Particles” as New Resin Technology for UV Curable Formulations - Mike Miyamoto, Kaneka Corporation.
• Interaction and Biodegradation of UV/EB Cured Print Inks Applied to a Compostable Polymer Blend - Marcelo A. G. Bardi, Universidade de São Paulo.
• Interaction Of Photoexcited Photoinitiators With Nitroxyl Radicals - Igor Vladimir Khudyakov, Eastman Chemical.
 
Oxygen Inhibition - 10 a.m.-noon
• UV Curing in an Inerted Atmosphere Update - Jim Borsuk, Nordson Corporation
• Using con-focus RAMAN Spectra to Analysis Double Bond Conversion at Top 1 micron/1 micron far from - Oiver Starzmann, IST America Corp
• Mitigation of Oxygen Inhibition in UV LED, UVA, and Low Intensity UV Cure - Jo Ann Arceneaux, Allnex USA Inc.
• Experimental Comparison of Various Anti-Oxygen Inhibition Strategies in LED Curing - Branislav Husar, Vienna University of Technology
 
High Performance Coatings - 1 p.m.-3 p.m.
• Heat-Resistant UV-Curable Clearcoat for Aircraft Exteriors - Richard W. Baird, The Boeing Company.
• Radiation Curable Components and Their Use in Hard, Scratch Resistant Coating Applications - William Schaeffer, Sartomer USA, LLC.
• Effect of Polymer Particles on the Light Scattering Properties of UV Cured Anti-glare Hard Coating - Zhu Yang, Hubei Institute of Aerospace Chemotechnology.
• Smart UV Bionic Coatings on Architecture Application - Flora Yuan, Sunnyvale Technology LLC.     
 
Special Sessions Track C
• Pipe + Tube - 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
• Customer Perspectives: UV High Performance Coatings - 1:00 a.m.-noon
 
Special Sessions Track D
LED Forum & Roadmapping – 10 a.m.-noon
• UV LED: The Global Roundtable
10:00 a.m.-10:20 a.m. - Introduction & Presentation by BJS
10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. - Global Roundtable
 
• UV LED Roadmapping Session
11:00 a.m.-noon - Organized by Bob Karlicek, Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center, RPI.