Fast lines and thick, pigmented adhesives both demand high ultraviolet intensity at the bond. The Incure S20 is a mercury arc spot curing lamp that delivers more than 21 W/cm² at the light guide tip across a broad spectrum, giving industrial processes the energy to cure difficult chemistry in short cycle times.
What the S20 Is
The S20 is a compact arc spot lamp that focuses a broadband output, roughly 275–650 nm, into a light guide that carries the energy to the work. The wide spectrum reaches photoinitiators that narrow-band LED sources miss, and an adjustable intensity control lets an operator trim output from full power down to a level that suits heat-sensitive substrates.
Why Broadband Intensity Helps
- Pigmented and filled adhesives: Colorants and fillers absorb and scatter UV. Broadband high intensity drives enough energy through to cure the full depth.
- Thick sections: A deep bond line needs energy delivered past the surface layer; peak intensity extends the effective cure depth.
- Shadowed geometry: Higher tip irradiance tolerates the loss from an oblique or partly obstructed light path.
- Short cycle times: More irradiance means less exposure time to reach the same dose.
Dose and the Light Guide
The energy the adhesive absorbs is tip irradiance in W/cm² multiplied by exposure seconds. Tip irradiance depends on guide diameter, length, working distance, and guide age. Because the S20 runs at high intensity, guide condition matters: a discolored or damaged guide can drop delivered energy well below the recipe target. Fix the working distance with a holder and verify tip irradiance with a band-matched radiometer on a schedule.
Selecting and Operating the S20
- Guide diameter: Larger cores carry more total energy; smaller cores concentrate it on tiny features.
- Intensity setting: Run only as hot as the substrate tolerates to limit heat and fuming.
- Ventilation: High-intensity arc output can warm the work zone; provide exhaust where needed.
- Bulb life: Replace the arc bulb at its rated hours; output and spectrum both shift near end of life.
- Operator protection: UV-blocking eyewear and a contained light path are mandatory.
Cure Depth in Pigmented and Filled Adhesives
Depth of cure falls as the adhesive’s opacity rises. A clear adhesive may through-cure several millimeters in one exposure; the same chemistry loaded with pigment or filler may cure only a fraction of that. Broadband arc output helps because the longer wavelengths in the spectrum penetrate further than the short ones that cure the surface. Even so, verify depth on a representative sample: cure a test bond, section it, and check that the resin at the far interface has hardened, not just the surface skin.
Managing the Exotherm
High intensity into a thick bond can drive an exotherm that spikes the local temperature. On sensitive substrates or large masses this can distort the part or stress the joint. Where it shows up, step the exposure, a lower-intensity pre-gel followed by full-intensity cure, or reduce the intensity setting and lengthen the exposure to reach the same dose at a lower peak temperature.
Adjustable Intensity in Practice
The S20’s intensity control is not just a convenience. Run a heat-tolerant structural bond near full output for the shortest cycle, but back the intensity down for a thin bond on a clear lens where the goal is a stress-free cure rather than raw speed. Record the setting as part of each material’s recipe so it is reproduced on every run.
For help matching an S20 guide and intensity setting to your adhesive, Email Us.
Applications
The S20 suits electronics assembly with pigmented or structural adhesives, optical bonding of thick elements, connector and coil potting, and any spot cure where LED intensity or spectrum falls short. For clear, thin-section work with low heat tolerance, the L9000 UV LED spot lamp is the companion tool, and larger areas call for a flood lamp.
Process Control
Log tip irradiance and guide hours. Rotate guides when transmission falls, since light guide degradation is a frequent cause of a slow drift toward under-cure on an otherwise stable lamp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is broadband arc output the right choice over LED?
A: For pigmented or filled adhesives, thick bond lines, and shadowed geometry, where the longer wavelengths in the arc spectrum penetrate further than a single LED band and the higher tip irradiance tolerates path losses.
Q: How do I confirm a thick bond has through-cured?
A: Cure a representative sample, section it, and check that the resin at the far interface has hardened, not just the surface skin. Adjust exposure or step the cure until it does.
Q: What is the adjustable intensity control for?
A: Running only as hot as the substrate allows. Use near-full output for heat-tolerant structural bonds and a lower setting for thin bonds on clear lenses where a stress-free cure matters more than speed.
To specify an S20 for a high-intensity curing process, Contact Our Team.
Visit www.incurelab.com for more information.