Near-infrared curing: What it is; what it isn't
The powder coating industry continues to grow, thanks to advances in technology that range from new formulations for raw materials to improved application methods. In addition, the industry has progressed by finding new ways of using existing technology or by adapting technology already being used in other industries. This is the case with near infrared (NIR) curing. Although it shares some characteristics of conventional infrared (IR) curing methods, NIR curing uses a shorter wavelength than IR to speed the curing process. This article explains the evolution of NIR curing and its advantages over other curing methods. The article discusses limitations of NIR curing and compares it with conventional thermal curing
methods and ultraviolet (UV) curing processes.
Over the past 3 decades, the use of powder coatings and the companies involved with them have enjoyed strong and steady growth. With its durable and attractive finishes, ease of application, overspray reclaimability, and perhaps most significantly, its lack of solvents, the advent of powder coatings represented a step change in the history of industrial coatings.