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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Terminology Used for Ultraviolet (UV) Curing
Process Design and Measurement


This glossary of terms has been assembled in order to provide users, formulators, suppliers and researchers with terms that are used in
the design and measurement of UV curing systems. It was prompted by the scattered and sometimes incorrect terms used in industrial UV curing
technologies. It is intended to provide common and technical meanings as used in and appropriate for UV process design, measurement, and
specification. General scientific terms are included only where they relate to UV Measurements. The object is to be "user-friendly," with
descriptions and comments on meaning and usage, and minimum use of mathematical and strict definitions, but technically correct.
Occasionally, where two or more terms are used similarly, notes will indicate the preferred term.
For historical and other reasons, terms applicable to UV Curing may vary slightly in their usage from other sciences. This glossary is
intended to 'close the gap' in technical language, and is recommended for authors, suppliers and designers in UV Curing technologies.


absorbance
An index of the light or UV absorbed by a medium compared to the light transmitted
through it. Numerically, it is the logarithm of the ratio of incident spectral irradiance to
the transmitted spectral irradiance. It is unitless number. Absorbance implies
monochromatic radiation, although it is sometimes used as an average applied over a
specified wavelength range.
absorptivity (absorption coefficient)
Absorbance per unit thickness of a medium.
actinometer
A chemical system or physical device that determines the number of photons in a beam
integrally or per unit time. For example, solutions of iron (III) oxalate can be used as a
chemical actinometer, while bolometers, thermopiles, and photodiodes are devices whose
electrical response can be correlated with the number of photons detected.
actinometry
Determination of the number of photons in a beam per unit time, or integrated over time.
additive lamps
Medium pressure mercury vapor UV lamps (arc or microwave) that have had small
amounts of metal halide(s) added to the mercury within the bulb. These materials will
emit their characteristic wavelengths in addition to the mercury emissions. [This term is
preferred over doped lamps].
bandwidth
The range of wavelengths between two identified limits, expressed in the same units as
wavelength (nm). In radiometry, it is important that the basis of the limits (i.e. %
response of the instrument used) be specified or known. Band (wavelength range) must
be communicated with radiometric data.
cold mirror
A type of dichroic reflector that has low reflectance to IR compared to its reflectance of
shorter wavelengths, visible or UV. Also see dichroic.


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cosine response
Description of the spatial response to incident energy where response is proportional to
the cosine of the incident angle. A radiometer with a diffuser or a photo-responsive
coating will exhibit nearly cosine response.
dichroic
Exhibiting significantly different reflection or transmission in two different wavelength
ranges. Dichroic reflectors that have reduced reflectance to long wavelengths (IR) are
called cold mirrors, while reflectors having enhanced reflectance to long wavelengths
are called hot mirrors.
diffuse
A characteristic of a surface that reflects or scatters light or UV equally in all directions
(often confused with spread reflectance).
doped lamps
Term applied to UV lamps having metal halide additives to the mercury to alter the
emission spectrum of the lamp. (Historically this term has been used by UV arc lamp
manufacturers. It is an imprecise usage, as the added chemical does not alter the
properties of another). [The preferred term is additive lamps].
dose
Energy absorbed per unit mass. A precisely defined term in EB curing and ionizing
radiation technologies: 1 gray (Gy) = 1 J/kg = 0.1 Mrad. In UV curing, the term is
often used instead of the preferred terms for energy measured at a surface. Preferred UV
terms are energy, effective energy density, or exposure (for energy delivered to a
surface per unit area, not energy absorbed).
dynamic exposure
Exposure to a varying irradiance, such as when a lamp passes over a surface, or a surface
passes under a lamp, or lamps. In that case, energy is the time-integral of the irradiance
profile.
dynamic range
The span between the minimum irradiance and the maximum irradiance to which a
radiometer will accurately respond. Expressed as a ratio, or in measured units (e.g.,
watts/cm).
effective energy density
Radiant energy, within a specified wavelength range, arriving at a surface per unit area,
usually expressed in joules per square centimeter or millijoules per square centimeter
(J/cm or mJ/cm). Is expressed in a specified wavelength range (without wavelength
specification, it is essentially meaningless). Commonly accepted abbreviations are W

or
E

. [An alternate term is exposure.]

effective irradiance
Radiant power, within a specified wavelength range, arriving at a surface per unit area. It
is expressed in watts or milliwatts per square centimeter (W/cm or mW/cm) in a
specified wavelength range (without wavelength specification, it is essentially
meaningless). For brevity, when the wavelength range is clearly understood, the term is
shortened to irradiance. Commonly accepted abbreviations are E

or I

. Compare
spectral irradiance.
einstein
One mole of photons. Sometimes equated to the energy of one mole of photons
although this use is discouraged.


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electromagnetic spectrum
An extremely wide range of radiation that travels at the speed of light, and characterized
by wavelength. Extends from radio waves (~10
4
meters), through visible and UV (~10
-4

meters), to gamma rays (~10
-14
meters).
emission spectra
Radiation from an atom or atoms in an excited state, usually displayed as radiant power
vs wavelength. Emission spectra are unique to each atom or molecule. The spectra may
be observed as narrow line emission (as in atomic emission spectra), or as quasi-
continuous emission (as in molecular emission spectra). A mercury plasma emits both
line spectra and continuum simultaneously.
energy density
Radiant energy arriving at a surface per unit area, usually expressed in joules or
millijoules per square centimeter (J/cm or mJ/cm). It is the time-integral of irradiance.
Same as exposure. For a parallel and perpendicularly incident beam, not scattered or
reflected, energy density and fluence become identical. Compare fluence. [Not
equivalent to dose.]
exposure
Effective radiant energy density at a surface; the time-integral of irradiance within a
specified bandwidth, expressed in J/cm or mJ/cm. The time-integral of fluence rate, in
J/m or J/cm. Also radiant exposure. In solar UV exposure applications, larger units
may be used J/m or even MJ/m. Compare fluence. [Not equivalent to dose.] The
definition varies in radiation chemistry and in clinical chemistry.
fluence
The total radiant energy of all wavelengths passing from all directions through an
infinitesimally small sphere of cross-sectional area dA, divided by dA. Units are
typically J/cm or mJ/cm.
fluence rate
The radiant power of all wavelengths passing from all directions through an
infinitesimally small sphere of cross-sectional area dA, divided by dA. For a parallel and
perpendicularly incident beam, not scattered or reflected, irradiance and fluence rate
become identical. Units are typically W/cm or mW/cm.
flux (radiant flux)
The flow of photons, in einstein/second; one einstein = one mole of photons.
hot mirror
A dichroic reflector having a higher reflectance to IR than to visible or UV. See dichroic.
intensity
A generic term, with a variety of meanings; undefined, but sometimes used to mean
irradiance. Generally mis-applied in UV curing. Its precise optical meaning is
flux/steradian (W/sr), applied to emission of light; not useful in UV curing. [Compare
irradiance or peak irradiance or effective irradiance].
irradiance
Radiant power arriving at a surface from all forward angles, per unit area. It is expressed
in watts per square centimeter or milliwatts per square centimeter (W/cm or mW/cm).
Compare effective irradiance, spectral irradiance and fluence rate.



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irradiance profile
The irradiance pattern a lamp; or, in the case of dynamic exposure, the varying irradiance
at a point on a surface that passes through the field of illumination of a lamp or lamps;
irradiance vs time.
joule (millijoule)
A unit of work or energy (a newton-meter). The time-integral of power. Abbreviated J or
mJ. (Although derived from a proper name, the term joule is not capitalized, while its
abbreviation is capitalized).
light
Radiant energy in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.
line emission
Narrow lines of emission from an atom in an excited state. These are the spikes
observed in spectrometry. Low-pressure sources exhibit finely distinguished line
emission; higher pressure sources generally exhibit more continuous spectra.
monochromatic
Light or UV radiated from a source that is concentrated in only a very narrow wavelength
range (bandwidth). This may be accomplished either by filters or by narrow-band
emission.
monochromator
An instrument that separates incoming radiant energy into its component wavelengths for
measurement. Two methods are used for dispersing the radiation: diffraction grating or
prism. The typical resolution may be 1 nanometer or less.
nanometer
Unit of length. Abbreviated nm. Equals 10
-9
meter, = 10
-3
micron, = 10 (ngstrom).
Commonly used unit to define wavelength of light, particularly in the UV and visible
ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum. An older equivalent term, millimicron, is rarely
used today.
optical density
The logarithm of the reciprocal of reflectance or transmittance. A dimensionless number.
In printing and color, it is the log of the ratio of visible light absorbed by an absolute
white to the light absorbed by the measured ink.
peak irradiance
The intense, peak of focused power directly under a lamp. The maximum point of the
irradiance profile. Measured in irradiance units, W/cm.
photometer
An instrument for measuring visible light, usually filtered or corrected to match the
human eye response.
power (radiant) see radiant power
The rate of radiant energy or total radiant power (W) emitted in all directions by a
source.
power (UV lamp)
Tubular UV lamps are commonly described by their operating power in watts per inch
or watts per centimeter. This is derived simply from the electrical power input divided
by the effective length of the bulb. (It does not have a direct meaning to the output
efficiency of a lamp system, to the spectral conversion efficiency, to the curing
performance, nor to the UV irradiance delivered to a work surface).


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polychromatic, or polychromic
Consisting of many wavelengths.
quantum yield
A measure of the photon efficiency of a photochemical reaction. The ratio of the number
of chemical events per unit time to the number of photons absorbed per unit time. It is a
unitless measure. Note that it is based on the absorbed and not the incident photon flow.
radiachromic
Exhibiting a change of color or optical density with exposure to light or UV. A character
of films whose color or density change can be correlated to exposure to UV energy.
radiance
Generally refers to the radiant output of a source. It is radiant flux per unit area per
steradian (W/cm/sr). In UV curing, it is used in a generic sense rather than as a precise
optical term.
radiant power
Rate of energy transfer, expressed in watts or joules/second (W = J/sec).
radiant intensity
Power per unit of solid angle from a source, expressed in watts/steradian (W/sr).
radiant energy
Energy transfer, expressed in joules or watt-seconds (J = Wsec).
radiant exposure
See exposure.
radiochromic
Preferred term is radiachromic
radiometer
A device that senses irradiance incident on its sensor element. Its construction may
incorporate either a thermal detector or a photonic detector. The instantaneous signal
output will usually have a linear proportionality to radiant flux, and will depend on
incident wavelength(s). The resulting characteristic response to irradiance versus
wavelength is called responsivity.
responsivity (spectral sensitivity)
The response or sensitivity of any system in terms of incident wavelength. In radiometry,
it is the relative output of a device versus wavelength. In photochemistry, it may also be
applied to the spectral response of photoinitiators.
spectral output
The radiant output of a lamp versus wavelength. It is displayed in a variety of ways, but
commonly a graph or chart of output watts plotted against wavelength. The appearance
of the plot will vary dramatically, depending on the wavelength resolution used. A
technique of normalizing is to integrate spectral power over 10-nanometer bands,
(W/10nm), to reduce the difficulty of quantifying the effects of line emission spectra.
spectral absorbance (absorbance spectrum)
Absorbance described as a function of wavelength.
spectral irradiance
Irradiance at a given wavelength per unit area per unit wavelength interval. Expressed in
W/cm/nm. Usually measured with a spectroradiometer. Compare effective
irradiance.


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spectroradiometer
An instrument that combines the functions of a radiometer and a monochromator to
measure irradiance in finely divided wavelength bands.
static exposure
Exposure to a constant irradiance for a controlled period of time. Contrast with dynamic
exposure.
UV
Ultraviolet. Radiant energy in the 100 nm to 450 nm range. 100 nm to 200 nm is
generally called vacuum UV (VUV), because it does not transmit in air. There is no
precisely defined boundary between UV and visible light, and may be considered about
400-450 nm.
UVA, UVB, UVC
Designations of UV wavelength ranges, originally for distinction of physiological effects
of UV, and establishment of safe exposure limits. The generally accepted ranges are:
VUV: 100-200 nm
UVC: 200-280 nm
UVB: 280-315 nm
UVA: 315-400 nm
UVA is commonly referred to as long UV wavelengths; while UVC is considered short
UV wavelengths. VUV should not to be confused with the very long UV range called
UVV (400-450 nm).
Measurement of specific ranges may be defined by the responsivity of a radiometer. It
should be made clear, when referring to these ranges, exactly what wavelengths they
represent. Specific manufacturers of radiometers will use uniquely specified ranges.
watt (milliwatt)
The absolute meter-kilogram-second unit of power equal to the work done at the rate of
one joule per second or to the power produced by a current of one ampere across a
potential difference of one volt: 1/746 horsepower. Abbreviated W or mW. In optics, a
measure of radiant or irradiant power. (Even though the term is derived from a proper
name, the term watt is not capitalized, while the abbreviation is capitalized).
wavelength
A fundamental descriptor of electromagnetic energy, including light. It is the distance
between corresponding points of a propagated wave. It is the velocity of light divided by
equivalent frequency of oscillation associated with a photon. UV wavelengths are
currently measured in nanometers (10
-9
meter). An older term, ngstroms (= 10
-10

meter) is rarely used today. The typical symbol for wavelength is (lambda).

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