Does UVC light cure UV resin?

If you’re a jewelry maker and you’ve been wondering if UVC light can cure UV resin, the answer is yes.

UV resins for jewelry making are available in two forms: one part and two part resins. Both types cure with ultraviolet (UV) light.

Most UV resins require exposure to UV light over a period of time before being fully cured, but there are some that cure almost immediately after exposing them to UV light.

Generally, the more powerful the UV rays (measured in watts), the shorter it takes to cure your resin piece.

Does UVC light cure UV resin?

Short answer: No.

If you’re not familiar with them, the UVC lights are very small LED lamps that emit a purple colored light. They’re designed to be used as a curer for resin, but they often don’t work well. The reason is simple: UV resin is cured by light of a certain wavelength, namely UV-A light.

However, the UVC lights have a shorter wavelength than UV-A light and will not cure the resin properly.

Can you use UVC to cure resin?

Yes, you can use UVC to cure resin. This is the most efficient way of curing your UV resin.

UV-A, UV-B and UV-C light all cure UV resin. It depends on the intensity of the light and its wavelength. The more intense a lamp is, the faster it will cure your resin.

In practice, it will take about two to three times as long with a lower intensity lamp compared to a high intensity lamp.

The wavelength is also important because only specific wavelengths are able to polymerize the molecules so that they bond with each other and form one giant molecule network (a polymer).

The longer wavelengths such as UV-A and UV-B are less effective in doing so than UVC rays due to their longer wavelength which does not fit with how big or small the reactive molecules in the resin are.

Will any UV light cure UV resin?

Nope.

You’re going to need a UV light to cure your resin. They come in many different forms, but they all work the same way. There are different wavelengths of radiation that we call light: visible, infrared, and ultraviolet.

The important thing for curing resin is the ultraviolet wavelength because it contains enough energy to break chemical bonds and rearrange ions into new patterns.

But that’s not all! You’ve got to consider two more things before you can cure your resin with any old UV lamp: how long do you need to cure it, and how much light does it take? After all, if you waved a UV flashlight at your resin for three hours, would it cure?

What light do you need to cure UV resin?

Here’s the good news: all of the UV lamps we’ve found so far will cure your resin.

However, you may be curious about what wavelength of light is needed to cure UV resin. We have those answers for you, too!

According to a study called “Optimization of an Ultraviolet Curing Process for Polymeric Materials,” UV light at a wavelength of 365 nm or less is required in order to cure UV resin.

For reference, blacklight bulbs usually have a wavelength between 325 and 375 nm. Because of this, they can be used safely to cure your resin.

UV resin also cures in the dark, but it will cure faster when exposed to sunlight or another strong light source.

What is the fastest way to cure UV resin?

Listening to your customers is a key aspect of running and growing an online shop. Reconsider your approach by trying these alternative approaches to solving their problems quickly and easily:

  • Get a UV lamp and learn how to use it. A UV lamp is simple and can be used right away when the customer needs it. Learn how to turn the UV light on, take note of what color they see, let them know what they’re seeing, and have them describe where they saw it.
  • Use a UV flashlight. The same idea as above but with a flashlight instead of an invisible light bulb in the ceiling!

Will a LED light cure UV resin?

It’s a sunny day, and you’re on your way to work. You stop at the local supermarket for some groceries, and as you reach for the milk in the cooler, it tastes bad.

It’s got an off flavor that makes your stomach turn over. Your eyes dart around for something else to buy, and when you look down again at the milk carton, there it is UV resin on every single glass bottle in sight! That must be why all of your other bottles taste so good. What happened?!

The answer is clear: UV resin has been cured by UV light of one kind or another since its discovery in 1935. It doesn’t matter which spectrum—UV-A (290–320 nm), UVA (320–400 nm), or UVC (less than 100 nm)—and we do not know what particular wavelength cures UV resin fastest or even how long it takes.

There are countless variables involved that we just can’t fully understand yet.

But don’t worry: with LEDs curing UV resin faster than fluorescent lights but slower than sunlight, this won’t be an issue for a long time to come. So put your worries away and get ready to go shopping again!

Is UV resin toxic after curing?

No. After it’s fully cured, your UV resin is non-toxic. It’s so safe, that it can be used to make molds for the food industry.

How long does it take UV resin to cure?

As a general rule, UV resin cures in seconds when exposed to light. However, depending on the curing conditions, a full cure can take up to 24 hours.

The faster the UV light is moving through your UV lightbox or UV curing chamber and the more UV light that is exposed to the resin you are trying to cure will result in a faster cure.

For example, if your product is small and you are using a smaller-sized drawer-style UV curing chamber or UV conveyor belt, it may take longer for your product to be fully cured than if you were using a larger-sized drawer-style UV curing chamber or larger conveyor belt for example.

Conclusion

UVC light is the most commonly available type of ultraviolet light. It is also the only type that can cure UV resin.

The other types of UV light, UVA and UVB, cannot cure resin but may speed up the process. Using any type of ultraviolet light to cure your resin will shorten the curing time, prevent clumping and increase your accuracy.

If you have not used a UV curing lamp before, or if you have never used UVC lights to cure your resin before, purchasing a lamp from an established brand with customer reviews will ensure that you get a safe, easy-to-use product. You should also check that the lamp emits enough ultraviolet radiation for it to be effective for curing resin.

If you are unsure whether it does or not, read our guide above and check out this handy table!

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Martin Flood

Martin Flood has been working in the construction industry for over 20 years as a general contractor with expertise in remodeling projects that are large or small. He has furthered his career by specializing in epoxy resin flooring, providing excellent service to both commercial and residential clients. Martin’s experience enables him to offer professional advice on how to choose the right type of project based on your needs and budget.

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