Room temperature ultraviolet light vulcanization apparatus and method for silicone containing heat sensitive components

Abstract

This invention discloses a room-temperature ultraviolet (UV) curing apparatus and method for silicone parts containing thermistors, belonging to the field of silicone curing technology. The apparatus includes a housing with ventilation windows; a ventilation fan mounted on the housing; multiple UV lamps disposed inside the housing; and a clamp disposed inside the housing, the clamping part of which is made of sapphire. The sapphire clamping part is used to hold the uncured silicone part containing the thermistor and allows UV light to pass through the clamping part to irradiate the surface of the silicone part. During curing, the UV lamps are turned on to induce a curing reaction in the silicone part, while the ventilation fan is turned on to ventilate and cool the housing through the ventilation windows, maintaining the silicone part at room temperature. This invention achieves UV curing of silicone parts containing thermistors at room temperature, avoiding damage to the thermistor from high temperatures, and is particularly suitable for uncured platinum silicone parts containing fuses.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of silicone curing technology, specifically to a room-temperature ultraviolet curing apparatus and method for silicone parts containing thermosensitive elements. Background Technology

[0002] Uncured platinum silicone typically requires a high-temperature curing process to achieve cross-linking and curing. However, when silicone parts contain heat-sensitive elements (such as fuses or other components susceptible to high-temperature damage), traditional high-temperature curing methods can cause these elements to fail due to heat. Furthermore, existing technologies lack devices capable of uniformly curing silicone parts containing heat-sensitive elements in multiple directions at room temperature. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a curing device and method that can complete curing at room temperature while avoiding damage to the heat-sensitive elements. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a room temperature ultraviolet curing apparatus and method for silicone parts containing heat-sensitive elements, so as to solve the problem that the existing high temperature curing process cannot be applied to silicone parts containing heat-sensitive elements.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a room-temperature ultraviolet vulcanization device for silicone parts containing heat-sensitive elements, comprising: a housing with a ventilation window; a ventilation fan installed on the housing for cooperating with the ventilation window to achieve air exchange between the inside and outside of the housing; multiple ultraviolet lamps disposed inside the housing for irradiating ultraviolet light; and a clamp disposed inside the housing, wherein the clamping part of the clamp is made of sapphire material for clamping the uncured silicone part containing heat-sensitive elements and allowing ultraviolet light to pass through the clamping part to irradiate the surface of the silicone part.

[0005] Preferably, the clamping part of the fixture includes two sapphire clamping blocks arranged opposite each other.

[0006] Preferably, the plurality of ultraviolet lamps are arranged inside the housing to irradiate the fixture from different directions.

[0007] Preferably, the silicone component containing the thermistor is an uncured platinum silicone component containing a fuse.

[0008] Preferably, a room-temperature ultraviolet curing method for silicone parts containing heat-sensitive elements includes the following steps:

[0009] An uncured silicone part containing a heat-sensitive element is clamped in the sapphire clamping part of the fixture;

[0010] Turn on the multiple ultraviolet lamps to allow ultraviolet light to pass through the sapphire material clamping part and irradiate the silicone part, thereby causing the silicone part to undergo a vulcanization reaction;

[0011] During ultraviolet light irradiation, the ventilation fan is turned on, and the interior of the box is ventilated and cooled through the ventilation window to keep the temperature of the silicone parts within the normal temperature range.

[0012] Preferably, the uncured silicone part is uncured platinum silicone that can be stored for a long time.

[0013] Preferably, the thermal element is a fuse.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0015] Achieving room temperature vulcanization: The vulcanization reaction is stimulated by ultraviolet light, replacing the traditional high-temperature vulcanization process. This allows silicone parts containing thermistors to be vulcanized at room temperature, fundamentally avoiding thermal damage to thermistors such as fuses caused by high temperatures.

[0016] Multi-directional uniform vulcanization: Sapphire material is used as the clamping part of the fixture. Taking advantage of the high transmittance of ultraviolet light by sapphire, ultraviolet light can effectively pass through the clamping part and simultaneously irradiate the surface of the silicone part from multiple directions, ensuring uniform and sufficient vulcanization and improving the vulcanization quality.

[0017] Effective temperature control: Through the combination of ventilation fans and ventilation windows, the interior of the chamber is continuously ventilated during ultraviolet light irradiation, which promptly removes the heat generated by the light and keeps the vulcanization environment within the normal temperature range, ensuring the safety of the heat-sensitive elements.

[0018] Wide applicability: It is particularly suitable for uncured platinum silicone parts that require long-term storage and originally needed high-temperature curing, especially silicone products containing high-temperature and easily damaged components such as fuses, and has broad application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a top view of the interior of the housing of the present invention.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Box body; 2. Flip-top; 3. Ventilation window; 4. Exhaust fan; 5. Ultraviolet lamp; 6. Clamp; 7. Sapphire clamping block. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] according to Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, a room temperature ultraviolet curing apparatus for uncured platinum silicone parts containing fuses is disclosed. This apparatus is particularly suitable for uncured platinum silicone parts containing fuses.

[0025] The device includes a rectangular box 1 with a flip-top cover 2 at the top. A ventilation window 3 is located on one side wall of the box 1. An exhaust fan 4 is installed on the other side wall of the box 1. The ventilation window 3 and the exhaust fan 4 are positioned opposite each other to form an airflow path through the interior of the box 1. When the exhaust fan 4 is operating, outside air enters the box 1 through the ventilation window 3, absorbs heat, and is then exhausted through the exhaust fan 4, thus achieving continuous air exchange between the inside and outside of the box 1.

[0026] Multiple ultraviolet lamps 5 are fixedly installed inside the housing 1 and at the bottom of the flip cover 2. The irradiation direction of each ultraviolet lamp 5 is directed towards the central area inside the housing 1 to ensure that the clamped silicone part is irradiated simultaneously from multiple different directions.

[0027] A clamp 6 is located at the center of the interior of the housing 1. This clamp 6 includes a fixed clamping arm and a movable clamping arm. The fixed clamping arm is fixedly connected to the bottom of the housing 1 or a support frame, while the movable clamping arm opens and closes manually or pneumatically. A clamping block is mounted on the opposing surfaces of the fixed and movable clamping arms. Both clamping blocks are flat structures made of sapphire material. The clamping surfaces of the two clamping blocks are parallel to each other and arranged opposite to each other for clamping silicone parts. Sapphire material has high transmittance to ultraviolet light, with a transmittance of not less than 85% in the wavelength range of 200nm to 400nm.

[0028] The above-mentioned apparatus is used to perform room temperature ultraviolet curing on uncured platinum silicone parts containing fuses. The specific steps are as follows:

[0029] Step 1: Clamp the silicone parts

[0030] The operator opens the flip cover 2 of the housing 1 and places the silicone part to be vulcanized between the two sapphire clamping blocks 7 of the clamp 6. The silicone part is unvulcanized platinum silicone, with a fuse pre-embedded inside. The movable clamping arms of the clamp 6 are adjusted so that the two clamping blocks gently clamp the silicone part without deforming it. After clamping, the upper and lower main surfaces of the silicone part are in close contact with the clamping surfaces of the two sapphire clamping blocks 7.

[0031] Step 2: Turn on the UV lamp 5 to perform vulcanization.

[0032] Close the flip cover 2 and simultaneously turn on the four ultraviolet lamps 5. The ultraviolet light emitted by the ultraviolet lamps 5 illuminates the clamping area 6 from the top, bottom, and left and right sides. Since the two clamping blocks are made of sapphire, the ultraviolet light can pass smoothly through the clamping blocks and directly illuminate the surface of the silicone part. For the top and bottom surfaces of the silicone part, the ultraviolet light passes perpendicularly through the sapphire clamping blocks 7 and reaches the silicone surface; for the four sides of the silicone part, the ultraviolet light directly illuminates from the ultraviolet lamps 5 on the left and right sides or reaches the surface after being reflected by the inner wall of the housing 1. This achieves simultaneous ultraviolet light irradiation of the silicone part from all directions.

[0033] Under ultraviolet light irradiation, the platinum catalyst in the silicone component initiates a hydrosilylation reaction, causing the uncured platinum silicone to crosslink and cure. In this embodiment, the wavelength of the ultraviolet lamp 5 is 365 nm, and the irradiation intensity is 50 mW / cm². 2 The irradiation time is 5 to 10 minutes, and the specific time is adjusted according to the thickness and area of ​​the silicone part.

[0034] Step 3: Ventilate and cool down to maintain normal temperature

[0035] Simultaneously with the activation of the UV lamp 5, the ventilation fan 4 is started. The ventilation fan 4 rotates at a speed of 500 to 1500 revolutions per minute, driving airflow. The cooler outside air enters the chamber 1 through the ventilation window 3, flows over the UV lamp 5 and the surface of the silicone parts, absorbs the heat generated by the operation of the UV lamp 5 and the small amount of heat generated when the UV light irradiates the silicone parts, and is then exhausted to the outside of the chamber 1 through the ventilation fan 4.

[0036] Through continuous ventilation, the internal temperature of enclosure 1 is consistently maintained within a normal range of 20°C to 35°C. This temperature range is far below the thermal damage threshold of the fuse, which is typically above 80°C, thus effectively protecting the fuse inside the silicone components from damage due to overheating.

[0037] Step 4: Complete vulcanization

[0038] After the predetermined irradiation time is reached, turn off the UV lamp 5 and the ventilation fan 4 in sequence. Open the flip cover 2 and remove the silicone part that has been vulcanized. Upon inspection, the silicone part is fully vulcanized, its internal fuse is intact, and no heat damage has been observed.

[0039] In other embodiments of the invention not shown, the device parameters can be adjusted according to actual needs: the number of ultraviolet lamps 5 can be two, six, or more, as long as they can irradiate the silicone part from different directions. The wavelength of the ultraviolet lamps 5 can be selected in the range of 250nm to 400nm, specifically determined according to the photosensitive characteristics of the platinum silicone used. The sapphire clamping block 7 is not limited to a flat plate shape, but can also be processed into an arc or irregular shape according to the shape of the silicone part to ensure good adhesion to the surface of the silicone part. The positions of the ventilation fan 4 and the ventilation window 3 can be interchanged, or multiple ventilation fans 4 and multiple ventilation windows 3 can be provided on the housing 1 to enhance the heat dissipation effect. For ordinary silicone parts without heat-sensitive elements, the same device and method can be used for room temperature vulcanization, which can also avoid the influence of high temperature on the performance of the silicone material itself.

[0040] Using the apparatus and method of this embodiment, 100 uncured platinum silicone parts containing fuses were subjected to room-temperature ultraviolet (UV) curing. After curing, all silicone parts reached a fully cured state, i.e., a Shore hardness of 40A±2A, and none of the fuses were damaged. Comparative experiments showed that the fuse failure rate of the same silicone parts treated with a traditional 150℃ high-temperature curing process was as high as 95%. Therefore, the apparatus and method provided by this invention successfully achieved UV curing of silicone parts containing thermistors at room temperature, ensuring both curing effectiveness and avoiding damage to the thermistors from high temperatures, representing a significant technological advancement.

[0041] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A room-temperature ultraviolet curing apparatus for silicone parts containing a thermistor element, characterized in that, include: A box (1) is provided with a ventilation window (3); An exhaust fan (4) is installed on the box (1) to cooperate with the ventilation window (3) to realize the air exchange inside and outside the box (1); Multiple ultraviolet lamps (5) are installed inside the housing (1) for irradiating ultraviolet light; The clamp (6) is located inside the housing (1). The clamping part of the clamp (6) is made of sapphire material and is used to clamp the uncured silicone part containing the heat-sensitive element and to allow ultraviolet light to pass through the clamping part to irradiate the surface of the silicone part.

2. The room temperature ultraviolet curing apparatus for silicone parts containing thermistor elements according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping part of the clamp (6) includes two sapphire clamping blocks (7) arranged opposite each other.

3. The room temperature ultraviolet curing apparatus for silicone parts containing thermistor elements according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of ultraviolet lamps (5) are arranged inside the housing (1) to irradiate the fixture (6) from different directions.

4. The room temperature ultraviolet curing apparatus for silicone parts containing thermistor elements according to claim 1, characterized in that, The silicone component containing the thermistor is an uncured platinum silicone component containing a fuse.

5. A method for room-temperature ultraviolet curing of silicone parts containing heat-sensitive elements, characterized in that, Using the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, and comprising the following steps: The uncured silicone part containing the heat-sensitive element is clamped in the sapphire clamping part of the clamp (6); Turn on the multiple ultraviolet lamps (5) to allow ultraviolet light to pass through the sapphire material clamping part and irradiate the silicone part, thereby causing the silicone part to undergo a vulcanization reaction; During ultraviolet light irradiation, the ventilation fan (4) is turned on, and the interior of the box (1) is ventilated and cooled through the ventilation window (3) so that the temperature of the silicone parts is maintained within the normal temperature range.

6. The room temperature ultraviolet curing method for silicone parts containing thermistor elements according to claim 5, characterized in that, The uncured silicone parts are uncured platinum silicone that can be stored for a long time.

7. The room temperature ultraviolet curing method for silicone parts containing thermosensitive elements according to claim 5, characterized in that, The thermal element is a fuse.

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