# US 2014/0191445 A1 · Irradiation And Molding Unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191445 A1 - Document ID: US20140191445A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,572 - Filed: 2012-08-17 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-18 - Assignees: Momentive Performance Materials Inc. - Inventors: Stefan Rist; Clemens Trumm; Holger Albrecht - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191445A1 ## CPC - B29C 35/08: by wave energy or particle radiation {(B29C64/00, B29C71/04 take precedence)} - B29C 35/0805: {using electromagnetic radiation} - B29C 35/0888: {using transparant moulds} - B29C 2033/0005: {with transparent parts, e.g. permitting visual inspection of the interior of the cavity} - B29C 2035/0827: {using UV radiation} - B29C 2035/1616: {using liquids} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract The invention relates to an irradiation and molding unit which can be cooled for curing light-curable polymer compositions, a method for preparing cured polymer moldings or articles coated with cured polymers by using the irradiation and molding unit which can be cooled, as well as the use of such irradiation unit for preparing polymer moldings or polymer coated articles. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-15. (canceled) ### Claim 16 An irradiation and molding unit for curing light-curable polymer compositions comprising: one or more UV light sources for irradiating at least one transparent layer which is in contact with a light-curable polymer composition, and which is located between the UV light sources and the photo-curable polymer composition, at least one mold for receiving the light-curable polymer composition, and at least one liquid layer which is located between the transparent layer and one or more UV light sources, and which is not permanently fixed to the UV light sources. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the thickness of the liquid layer is between 0.01 mm to 50 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the liquid layer is in contact with said transparent layer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the liquid layer is located between, and in contact with, the transparent layer and a transparent covering layer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The irradiation unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the liquid layer is located between two transparent covering layers, which are located between the UV light sources and the transparent layer. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the liquid of the liquid layer absorbs IR radiation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises one or more injection channels for the light-curable polymer compositions. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the UV light source is selected from the group consisting of UV-fluorescent lamps, high pressure mercury vapor lamps, UV arc lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps, flash lamps, undoped mercury lamps, Fe-doped mercury lamps, gallium doped mercury lamps, and black light lamps. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, characterized in that said transparent layer constitutes part of at least one of (a) the mold for receiving the light-curable polymer compositions and (b) one or more injection channels. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, wherein the transparent layer in contact with the light-curable polymer composition consists of a thermoplastic polymeric material. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 16, wherein the light-curable polymer compositions are light-curable silicone compositions. ### Claim 27 A molding unit for curing light-curable polymer compositions, comprising: at least one mold for receiving a light-curable polymer composition, at least one transparent layer which is in contact with the light-curable polymer composition, and which is transmissible to the UV radiation, and at least one liquid layer, which is arranged to be irradiated by irradiation of the transparent layer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) A process for the preparation of cured polymer moldings or articles coated with cured polymers, wherein at least one light-curable polymer composition is cured by using the irradiation unit according to claim 16. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The process of claim 28, comprising the steps of: (a) optionally assembling the components of the irradiation unit, (b) optionally inserting one or more articles to be coated into the at least one mold for receiving the light-curable polymer composition, (c) introducing one or more light-curable polymer compositions into the at least one mold for receiving the light-curable polymer composition, optionally by one or more injection channels, (d) irradiating the light-curable polymer compositions through the transparent layer in the region of at least one of (i) the injection channel and (ii) the at least one mold for receiving the light-curable polymer composition to form cured polymer molded articles or cured polymer-coated articles, (e) removing, continuously or batchwise, the cured polymer molded articles or cured polymer-coated articles. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 17, characterized in that the liquid layer is in contact with said transparent layer. ### Claim 31 (depends on 17) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 17, characterized in that the liquid layer is located between, and in contact with, the transparent layer and a transparent covering layer. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 17, characterized in that the liquid of the liquid layer absorbs IR radiation. ### Claim 33 (depends on 17) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 17, characterized in that it comprises one or more injection channels for the light-curable polymer compositions. ### Claim 34 (depends on 17) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 17, characterized in that the UV light source is selected from the group consisting of UV-fluorescent lamps, high pressure mercury vapor lamps, UV arc lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps, flash lamps, undoped mercury lamps, Fe-doped mercury lamps, gallium doped mercury lamps, and black light lamps. ### Claim 35 (depends on 18) The irradiation and molding unit according to claim 18, characterized in that the UV light source is selected from the group consisting of UV-fluorescent lamps, high pressure mercury vapor lamps, UV arc lamps, metal halide lamps, xenon lamps, flash lamps, undoped mercury lamps, Fe-doped mercury lamps, gallium doped mercury lamps, and black light lamps.