UV Light Applications & Uses

UV Lights, Lamps & Torches – APPLICATIONS

Product Code: UV APPLICATIONS

Possible UV applications seem to be growing by the day. Here is just a small selection of some of the many uses and applications for our wide range of UV Lights & UV Torches.

NDT – Non Destructive Testing 
Helping you perform the test in an efficient and safe manner. Common problems identified in NDT Testing such as burning of operators from overhead lamps, disturbance by Magnetic fields, and long start up times create an interruption while performing tests. Labino UV-lamps make use of MPXL as well as LED technologies, offering strong performance and overcoming all above mentioned drawbacks of such methods as Fluorescent Magnetic Particle Inspection (FMPI) and Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) that are still used in the NDT (Non Destructive Testing) field even today. Labino UV Lamps have been used within Non Destructive testing for almost 20 years. Our goal is to constantly gather knowledge from you and use that knowledge to develop new high performance UV lamps to fulfil your needs.

Crime & Forensics 
Labino helps you see what your eyes can’t see at a crime scene. At a crime scene, fast and accurate detection of possible traces is of vital importance. Many biological fluids are fluorescent in nature. When such traces are illuminated with light of the right wavelength they fluoresce and are detectable to the investigator. The degree to which various substances become visible when using different filters depends on the state of the substance and the surface on which the substance exists. Deciding what light source to use to achieve the best result in finding traces at the crime scene is an art. It takes years of experience to learn what light to use depending on the occasion – it’s not an exact science. New users using ALS (Alternative Light Sources) can of course use combinations of light and goggles to determine the best option for that occasion using trial and error until confidence and knowledge has been built up. We make it possible for each user to put together their own unique ALS kit. No crime scene looks the same. No crime scene investigator uses the same method, but we can all share experiences and learn from each other. Labino does offer professional training in using light at a crime scene. All their trainings are held by Crime Scene Investigators.

UV Curing 
Ultra-Violet curing (UV Curing) is a chemical process in which high-intensity ultraviolet light is used to instantly cure (or “dry”) polymer materials such as inks, coatings or adhesives. Curing is a chemistry term used to describe the cross-linking of polymer chains, brought about by ultraviolet radiation. UV curing is environmentally friendly and widely accepted as a method that facilitates better production economics and productivity. It is a speedy process that results in lower reject rates, energy savings and lower work-in-progress levels, often utilizing less floor space. Many of our clients in the automotive, telecommunications, electronics, aluminium, wood, glass and plastic decorating industries engage in UV curing activities. Depending on the application, UV curing’s attractive physical properties of improving solvent resistance (i.e. fewer scratches) and achieving superior bonding are the reasons often quoted by clients as adding value by means of product performance. Most adhesives are reactive polymers. They change from liquids to solids through various chemical polymerization reactions. UV-lamps help you save time. UV is used to speed up curing time. The adhesive and the UV-light source need to be coordinated for maximum effect. The demands on UV-curing are classified into three types of UV-curing systems: 1. Depth-curing with UV radiation 2. Surface-curing with UV radiation 3. Secondary curing systems For depth-curing, wavelengths between 300-400 nm give the best results. i.e. UV-A. For surface-curing, which is important for gluing, sealing and filling, shorter wavelengths are required i.e. below 300 nm. Secondary curing systems are used when the UV radiation does not reach the entire glue-surface and include heat, activators, moisture and oxygen. Benefits Labino UV-lamps emit UV-A and are therefore suitable for depth-curing. The method gives very short curing times to handling strength. Depth curing in seconds with low heat generation and energy consumption. Price versus performance is without comparison, compared to existing UV-curing systems.

Lighting Effects 
Illumination with UV Light UV-Light combined with fluorescent colours creates special lighting effects. These colours can be in the form of spray paint, make-up, colourful clothing, as well as special fluorescent liquid mixed with water. Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye and only the fluorescent material glows when UV-illuminated – everything else will remain dark. This is a very effective way of highlighting small or large details on a dark stage. In contrast, if white light (visible light) is used to highlight small or large details, everything that is hit by the white light will be illuminated. The Labino lamps (LED and MPXL) produce such a powerful concentration of UV-light that they can be mounted high above the stage or arena, where the normal white light lamps are mounted. This in turn enables lighting designers at theme parks or other stage productions the possibility of creating staggering special effects. Labino lamps are currently used at several Disney parks. Thanks to their light weight and small size, Labino UV-lamps are also easy to mount and can be placed wherever the effect is optimized. As Labino UV-lamps are of industrial quality and IP65 approved, they can even be used outdoors. In addition to offering unbeatable performance, the Labino UV-lamp also has a power consumption of only 44 watts, which means that it generates very little heat.

Automotive Leakage 
Detect engine leakage with high intensity UV-Light 63,000,000 automotive engines are inspected every year. Several of the inspections regarding leakage of oil, gasoline, diesel and glycol are made by UV illumination. The Labino Spotlight and its subsequent UV illumination, based on the MPXL technology, makes detecting engine leakage easier. By mixing certain fluids with different coloured fluorescence, it becomes possible not only to identify engine leakage, but also to identify the source of leakage; i.e. oil, gasoline, diesel or glycol on spot. The new Labino Torch Spotlight, based on the LED technology, is suitable for quick inspection and in areas hard to reach.

Industrial Leak Detection 
UV Light and fluorescent tracers UV, combined with fluorescent tracers, can be used in a closed, fluid or gas based system to detect cracks and leaks in for example pipes, valves and filters. Fluorescent tracers are usually highly concentrated and in combination with high intensity UV- light only minor quantities are required.

Detecting leaks in water heating plants and refrigeration systems. 
Preparing primary heat or primary cooling mediums with a fluorescent tracers makes it easy to detect even very small leakages as the leaking spot illuminates when exposed to high intensity UV-light. The method enables the user to easily decide which part is responsible for the leakage, the supplier (primary side) or the customer (secondary side).

Density control of filter systems 
When general filter leakage is detected in solid-fuel power plants, the Labino high intensity UV-light can be used to decide the exact location of the leakage. If the primary (contaminated) air is prepared with fluorescent pigments or fluorescent tracers, the leakage will appear as a luminous beam on the secondary (filtered) side.

Finding flaws with UV-light 
UV-light is used in industry to determine if the surface of a component is thoroughly covered by conformal coatings, i.e. transparent coating and lacquer. Examples from the Swedish industry Casco (Akzo Nobel) manufactures for coating components with glue. For quality reasons they perform ocular surveillance by mixing fluorescent substance with the glue and the UV-illuminating the surface of the glue coated object. Non-coated parts do not fluoresce. One or several Labino UV-lamps are fitted on each machine, depending on the size of the coated object and the amount of surrounding visible light. Scania uses the same technique to determine if their truck chassis are completely coated with lacquer. Ericsson uses Labino lamps on their production line for loud speakers, used in mobile phones. Since these parts are very small, they use a sensitive camera to detect non-coated areas.

Purity Control Hygiene and UV-lamps 
Certain materials and substances are fluorescent in nature when illuminated with UV-light. Dairy production. Due to health regulations, it is essential that the equipment used in dairy production, such as tubes and vessels, be cleaned on a regular basis. Some proteins found in milk and yoghurt are fluorescent when illuminated with UV-light. By using the Labino UV- lamps, dairy manufacturers are able to discover not only if their equipment is clean but also where the left over residue can be found.

Sanitation 
Another unexpected fluorescent substance is cat urine. Sanitation companies involved in the sanitation of apartments and private houses have recently discovered how effective it can be to use UV-light to illuminate the areas affected by cat urine. Instead of cleaning and repainting every room, only those areas that are covered in dry urine splash need to treated, thereby saving the sanitation company both time and money. The UV-Spotlight is exclusively used in this application as it is the most effective lamp used in investigatory work performed during normal daylight conditions.

Various Projects 
The Swedish organization Previa is responsible for continuously improving safety standards on construction sites. When subterranean work is done, such as the construction of tunnels, the intense white light that is used to illuminate the otherwise dark tunnel has proven to affect the workers’ night vision. Previa has worked together with Sweden’ largest construction company, Skanska, on a test project, using Labino UV lamps, to determine whether UV-Light can be used a complement to white light. Skanska is also testing fluorescent asphalt surfaces in combination with black light, the aim being to illuminate temporary objects on the surface of the road, e.g. detour signs or similar. When the Swedish Traffic Police set up roadside control sites, motorists occasionally complain that the officer in charge of stopping traffic is difficult to see at night. Tests have been conducted where a Labino UV-Spotlight is mounted on a mast by the side of the road, pointed at the police officer, who is wearing a fluorescent waistcoat or vest, substantially increasing his visibility. The officer operates the spotlight with a remote control. The Swedish Coast-Guard – Sea Rescue uses UV-light to detect fluorescent lifeboats and life jackets. The Labino UV-Spotlight can be used at night for easier detection, without loss of night vision, as often is the case when using visible white light. Many standard life jackets and lifeboats are made of fluorescent materials. The Swedish Forest Authorities are testing the possibilities of using fluorescent markings on trees and timber together with the Labino UV-Spotlight. The objective is to simplify identification, even in snowy conditions, of pre marked trees and timber. The markings are also used at sawmills in order to optimize cutting. A sensitive camera is used to detect the markings and the timber is then positioned appropriately before cutting.

Note:   Advanced NDT Limited Highly Recommend the use of UV Protection when working with UV Light.

Contact Advanced NDT Limited for further information & current pricing.

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