Ultraviolet Printing Research Articles

Determining abrasion resistance of decorative coated wood-based panels using retinex model

An Image Processing Based Scrub Tester (IPBST) was used to imitate the effect of household chemicals on furniture and decoration elements. For this purpose, 8 mm-thick, bright white, acrylic coated medium density fiberboard (MDF), polyvinyl chloride coated MDF, MDF lam ready-to-use sheets, and cellulosic, polyurethane, acrylic, and water-based paint applied MDF sheets were used. Carbon fiber patterned decorative coating was applied to the prepared sample surfaces using the water transfer printing and ultraviolet printing methods. The surfaces of the samples were scrubbed with various household chemicals in accordance with the Turkish Standard TS EN ISO 11998. In the image processing phase, the images before and after scrubbing were first converted to hue, saturation, and value color space. The relationship between the abrasion measurement method of the proposed IPBST and the abrasion data obtained from the stereo microscope device was examined using the Pearson Correlation analysis. The relationship between both abrasion test methods was positive, very strong, and significant (0.81). Thus, the IPBST can be used as an alternative to industrial test devices as it obtains similar data.

Inkjet 4D Print: Self-folding Tessellated Origami Objects by Inkjet UV Printing

We propose Inkjet 4D Print, a self-folding fabrication method of 3D origami tessellations by printing 2D patterns on both sides of a heat-shrinkable base sheet, using a commercialized inkjet ultraviolet (UV) printer. Compared to the previous folding-based 4D printing approach using fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers [An et al. 2018], our method has merits in (1) more than 1200 times higher resolution in terms of the number of self-foldable facets, (2) 2.8 times faster printing speed, and (3) optional full-color decoration. This paper describes the material selection, the folding mechanism, the heating condition, and the printing patterns to self-fold both known and freeform tessellations. We also evaluated the self-folding resolution, the printing and transformation speed, and the shape accuracy of our method. Finally, we demonstrated applications enabled by our self-foldable tessellated objects.

The Best Use of Ultraviolet Printing for Promotional Gifts for Companies and Institutions with the Application on the Flash Memory

The Best Use of Ultraviolet Printing for Promotional Gifts for Companies and Institutions with the Application on the Flash Memory

자외선 경화형 디지털 프린팅을 이용한 3D 프린팅 TPU 소재의 색채 특성

This study aims to confirm the possibility of Ultra-Violet (UV)-printed 3D printing materials using thermal polyurethane (TPU) with CMYK colors by applying an eco-friendly UV digital printing process. A UV-printed 3D printing TPU material was prepared with cycles of UV printing and CMYK colors. Dyeability of the 3D TPU samples with cycles of UV printing and CMYK were analyzed for thickness, weight, surface roughness, reflectance, colorimetry, and K/S values. The thickness and weight of 3D-printed TPU samples with cycles of UV printing are increased with overprints from 1 to 5. The surface roughness of 3D-printed TPU samples with increasing UV prints were decreased, meaning that the surface of TPU samples becomes gradually smoother. The reflectance spectra of CMYK UV-printed TPU samples showed the surface reflectance within each characteristic wavelength of CMYK. The 3D-printed TPU samples, subjected to UV printing twice or more, showed low surface reflectance. After examining the L*a*b* of the 3D-printed TPU samples by the cycles of UV printing, the study found that the more UV got printed more than 2 times, the closer the color to each CMYK.

Digital 3D Wood Texture: UV-Curable Inkjet Printing on Board Surface

Natural wood textures are appreciated in most forest products industries for their appealing visual characteristics including grain and color, but also their fine surface tactile sensation. The following presents an ultraviolet (UV)-curable inkjet technology printing 3D wood texture on wood-based substrate by image processing and surface treatment. The UV printing was created from scanned digital images of a real wood surface and processed in graphics software. The images were converted to grayscale graphics by selecting color range and setting the parameter of fuzziness. The grayscale images were printed as 3D texture height simulation on the substrates and coated by printing the color images as texture mapping. Based on these wood texture digital images, the marquetry art is also considered in the images processing design to increase the artistry of the printed materials. The medium-density fiberboard (MDF) coated printing marquetry surface replicate realistic natural 3D wood texture surface layers on wood-based panels and imitated the effect of handcrafted wood art works. This study proves that printing 3D texture surface material is creative and valuable with ecologically friendly, low-consumption UV-curable inkjet technology and provides a feasible and scalable approach in flooring/furniture/decorative architectural panels.

Multi-step exposure method for improving structure flatness in digital light processing-based printing

Digital light processing (DLP)-based printing system equipped with ultraviolet (UV) source has been used to fabricate user-defined complex structures for biomedical applications. For printing large-scale structure, improving the structural consistency remains a challenge owing to the non-uniformly distributed UV light. Here, we present a multi-step exposure (MSE) method that takes advantage of a series of gradient digital masks to compensate the under-cured regions with additional UV exposure and eventually improve the surface flatness. First, for the established DLP-based printing system, the distribution of the UV power density is me asured and the relationship between the UV power density, exposure time and printing thickness are studied. The structure thickness can be calculated by the distribution of UV power density and exposure time. Then, the MSE method is proposed and an algorithm is customized to automatically modify the original mask into a series of gradient masks for MSE printing. Experimental validation was carried out by evaluating the morphologies of stripes printed without and with MSE. Printing of helix microfluidic chips revealed that the consistency of the channel thickness can be ensured by employing the MSE method. Thus, this MSE method for DLP-based printing is promising for printing large-scale structures with a consistent thickness and high resolution.

Uv Ink-Jet printability and durability of stone and foil

The use of ultraviolet (UV) printing technology has impacted printing industry in last years due to its applicability on many different »absorptive« as well as »non-absorptive« printing materials. The printability of building materials and recycled foils is relatively unknown. For primary building materials like stones, functionality can be explored with the use of UV printing technology; increased visual, informative effect or even “creative printing” of buildings. Also several aspects of recycled foils reusability as a printing material could be find (printed packaging material or also like secondary building materials). In the present study, printability of the stone and recycled foil and durability of UV prints was explored by means of macroscopically and microscopically characterization. Results indicate that higher print quality can be achieved on polished stone and on coated foil, which surfaces have higher smoothness. Durability of UV prints at freezing is higher at unpolished stone and coated foil that is at materials with the higher surface energy.

UV超高精細印刷 (FMスクリーニング=10ミクロン網点) を活用した印刷システムの高度化について

UV超高精細印刷 (FMスクリーニング=10ミクロン網点) を活用した印刷システムの高度化について

Mass transfer ways of ultraviolet printing ink ingredients into foodstuffs

The case of isopropylthioxanthone (ITX) showed conclusively that the ingredients of ultraviolet printing inks may migrate into packaged foodstuffs. For multilayered materials like beverage cartons, the only way that mass transfer can occur is by the so-called set-off effect. In contrast, in the case of rigid plastics like yoghurt cups, two other methods of mass transfer, permeation and gas phase, have to be considered. In cooperation with producers of ink, plastic cups and yoghurt, a project was conducted in order to elucidate the mass transfer of ink ingredients. In addition, the influence of storage time and the age of ultraviolet lamps on the migration level was examined. The suitability of 50% ethanol as a simulant for yoghurt was also tested. ITX was chosen as a model migrant, as it is easily detectable. Furthermore, the migration of two other substances, the photo-initiator 2-methyl-4′-(methylthio)-2-morpholinopropiophenone (MTMP) and the amine synergist ethyl-4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (EDAB), which may be used in combination with ITX, was studied. Before being filled with yoghurt or 50% ethanol, the printed cups were stored under different contact conditions, with and without contact between the inner layer and the printed surfaces, in order to distinguish between the possible mass transfer ways. All analyses were performed by means of high performance liquid chromatography with diode array and fluorescence detection (HPLC-DAD/FLD). It was shown that contamination with ITX and EDAB occurs via set-off and that the degree of migration increases with lamp age and storage time of the unfilled cups. Migration of MTMP was not detectable. The results show that besides the careful selection of the appropriate raw materials for printing ink, a close monitoring of the process also plays a major role in migration control. In addition, the results proved that 50% ethanol is a suitable simulant for yoghurt.

Self-aligned flexible all-polymer transistor: Ultraviolet printing

Flexible all-polymer transistor has received much attention because it is needed for the unique area of flexible circuits and displays, and the solution processing allowed with polymers would enable low-cost production. In this work, we introduce and utilize ultraviolet (UV) printing technique for the fabrication of flexible all-polymer transistor. The technique allows printing of submicron patterns of polymers without applying heat or pressure, requiring only UV light. The UV printing also allows self-aligned gate formation, which can be accomplished through a simple roll-to-roll printing. The electrical performance of the flexible transistor thus fabricated is better than that of the other flexible all-polymer transistors.

Allergic contact dermatitis due to urethane acrylate in ultraviolet cured inks.

Seven workers exposed to ultraviolet printing inks developed contact dermatitis. Six cases were allergic and one irritant. A urethane acrylate resin accounted for five cases of sensitisation, one of which was also sensitive to pentaerythritol triacrylate and another also to an epoxy acrylate resin. One instance of allergy to trimethylpropane triacrylate accounted for the sixth case of contact dermatitis in this group of workers. An irritant reaction is presumed to account for the dermatitis in the individual not proved to have cutaneous allergy by patch tests. In this instance trimethylpropane triacrylate was thought to be the most likely irritating agent. Laboratory investigation proved urethane acrylate to be an allergen. The results of investigations of the sensitisation potentials of urethane acrylate, methylmethacrylate, epoxy acrylate resins, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, and other multifunctional acrylic monomers in the albino guinea pig are presented. The interpretation of such predictive tests is discussed.