Infrared drying is an indirect way of evaporating water-based inks or coatings, which does not involve air or water as intermediaries. This process typically involves emitting radiation energy from a heated element inside an IR lamp to the substrate at a lower temperature. Infrared lies between 0.78 µm and 1000 µm on the electromagnetic spectrum and consists of thermal radiation.
The Infrared Drying System offers the ability to dry and crystalize materials in minutes compared to hours with conventional drying equipment which reduces change over time significantly and reduces energy consumption drastically.
Infrared radiation is generally split into 3 main categories.
- Short-wave IR (SW): from 0,78 µm to 2µm
- Medium-wave IR (MW): from 2µm to 4µm
- Long-wave IR (LW): from 4µm to 1000µm
For those of you that may be using water-based printing applications, you’ll likely want to use short or medium-wave IR drying systems, these are the best systems to use that match the absorption peak for water molecules within the ink or coating. (Very important!)
Short wave infrared radiation is an ideal solution for drying applications due to its ability to produce high power densities in a relatively small area, the quick cool down times help lower thermal mass of the heated element.
Compared to air or any other drying method, Infrared head radiation offers an unparalleled energy transfer process that is transmitted directly to the substrate without any intermediate substance such as water. This makes it significantly more effective, resulting in faster drying times and improved production efficiency.
Unlike hot air-drying systems, Infrared radiation has the unique ability to penetrate through the air boundary layer and directly into ink or coating films. (Learn more here) This triggers an instantaneous evaporation of water and amine molecules from within these materials for immediate drying results.
The potency of the infrared radiation is essential to achieving maximal penetration through ink, therefore a well-designed reflector is critical for optimal performance.
Infrared emitters offer efficient heat and many more advantages when compared to other conventional heat technologies. Some of the most important benefits include:
- There’s no direct contact with the product to be heated or dried
- The compact drying area relative to air dryers or gas ovens
- Infrared can we switched on and off extremely fast, less than a second
- Infrared power settings can quickly be adjusted to accommodate speed or substrate differences; a key important feature
- The rapid removal of water and amine from the ink creates a brighter, more vibrant print.
Infrared drying systems are used in a lot of different applications throughout the world. Application of Infrared Dryers include but are not limited to:
- Drying of Fruits and Vegetables.
- Drying of ink and paper.
- Drying of water based latex and clay coatings on paper.
- Drying of coats in the coating line.
- Drying of fabrics in Textile.
- Laminate foam to fabric using web adhesives for automotive and furniture industries.
- Drying and curing coatings on industrial fabrics.
- Dry and Pre-dry water and solvent based pressure sensitive adhesives.
- Drying of water based latex and clay coatings on paper.
- Preheat films for laminating and embossing.
- Cure Silicone coatings on various substrates.
- Dry and cure solvent base resin coatings for electronics industry.
- Cure 100% solids resin coatings on fiberglass for Printed Circuit Boards.
- Drying of pharmaceutical coating.
- Sterilization of packaging containers for Food and pharmaceutical industries.
