UV Curing Method And An Assembly Therefor
AssigneeKungsors Plast AB
InventorThomas Andersson
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Abstract
It is presented a method for producing a cured polymer structure from a polymer compound which is UV curable and partly UV transparent. The method comprises injecting the polymer compound into a mould (2), which mould (2) has at least one wall (7) defining a mould space (6) for receiving the polymer compound in the mould space (6). The at least one wall (7) of the mould (2) is UV transparent and comprises a thermoplastic polymer. The polymer compound is then irradiated through the at least one wall (7), by means of at least one UV semiconductor light source, thereby curing the polymer compound to form the cured polymer structure. An assembly for producing a polymer structure and a mould (2) is also presented herein.
Claims17
A method for producing a cured polymer structure from a polymer compound, which polymer compound is UV curable and partly UV transparent, wherein the method comprises:
- injecting (S1) the polymer compound into a mould (2;
- 2′), which mould (2;
- 2′) has at least one wall (7) defining a mould space (6) for receiving the polymer compound in the mould space (6), wherein the at least one wall (7) is UV transparent and comprises a thermoplastic polymer, and
- irradiating (S2) the polymer compound, through the at least one wall (7), by means of UV light provided by at least one UV semiconductor light source, wherein the irradiating comprises irradiating the at least one wall (7) such that UV light passes through the polymer compound, thereby curing the polymer compound to form the cured polymer structure.
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the mould (2;
- 2′) comprises Polyvinyl chloride.
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the irradiating (S2) comprises irradiating the polymer compound from several directions simultaneously.
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the irradiating (S2) comprises irradiating with UV light having wavelengths in the range 290-400 nm.
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the irradiating (S2) comprises irradiating with UV light having a wavelength of 365 nm.
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer compound comprises liquid silicone rubber.
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising mixing (S0) a UV-activated catalyst with at least one portion of the polymer compound.
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the irradiating (S2) comprises irradiating the polymer compound for a time in the range 10-60 seconds.
The method as claimed in any the preceding claims, wherein the irradiating (S2) comprises circumferential irradiation of an external peripheral surface of the at least one wall (7).
The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer structure is a high voltage insulator.
An assembly (1;
- 1′) for producing a cured polymer structure from a polymer compound, which polymer compound is UV curable and partly UV transparent, the curing assembly comprising:
- a mould (2;
- 2′) having at least one wall (7) defining a mould space (6) for receiving the polymer compound in the mould space (6), wherein the at least one wall (7) is UV transparent and comprises a thermoplastic polymer, injecting means (3;
- 22) arranged to inject the polymer compound into the mould (2;
- 2′), and at least one UV semiconductor light source arranged to irradiate the injected polymer compound through the at least one wall (7).
A mould (2;
- 2′) for moulding polymer compounds, which mould (2;
- 2′) has at least one wall (7) defining a mould space (6) for receiving the polymer compound in the mould space (6), which at least one wall (7) comprises a thermoplastic polymer and is UV transparent, wherein the at least one wall (7) is so thin that the at least one wall (7) is flexible.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.