UV LED Evolution and Applications

One of the earliest applications of UV LEDs was in fluorescence microscopy starting in the late 1990s. While initial UV LED outputs were low, they provided significant advantages over mercury lamps such as longer lifetime, compact size, and precise control. This allowed for new fluorescence microscope designs focused on portability and cost reduction. As UV LED power output steadily increased through the 2000s, new applications emerged across many industries.

Curing and Drying Applications

UV curing using UV LED started gaining ground in the late 2000s. UV curing uses high-intensity UV light to nearly instantaneously cure coatings, adhesives, and inks through cross-linking reactions. This provides significant throughput advantages over heat-based drying methods. Early UV LED adoption focused on small-scale and specialty curing. However, as UV LED output levels surpassed 100mW, it became feasible for mass manufacturing applications like printing, wood finishing, and automotive coating. Today, UV LED curing systems offer higher flexibility, reliability, and energy efficiency compared to mercury lamp equivalents.

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