Polymers in Coatings, Inks, and 3D Printing: The Basics of UV and EB Curing

• Dr. Mike Idacavage, Radical Curing
• Sponsored by the ACS Silicon Valley Section
• 7-8pm, Online via Zoom, Free, Registration required
• Download flyer

Abstract:

The Energy Curable industry has grown tremendously since its beginnings in the early 1970s. The use of light or low energy electrons as the energy source for curing coatings is very attractive from a sustainability point of view. However, the main driving force for this technology has been the ability to lower process time and costs along with the ability to prepare coatings with unique properties. This seminar will present an introduction to photopolymerizations, otherwise known as UV and EB curing. In addition to the basic chemistry, an overview of various aspects of applications for UV coatings along with the equipment that is used will be covered.

Bio:

Dr. Mike J. Idacavage received his B.S. (Chemistry) from Drexel University in 1975 and his Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 1979 (Organometallic Chemistry). He joined Eastman Chemicals in 1979, serving at different times as Development Chemist, Manufacturing Support and Technical Service for Coatings. Mike’s work in the area of energy curing started at Eastman Chemicals with the establishment of a photopolymer lab in 1985. From 1986 to 1996, he held the position initially of Technical Manager and then Research Director at NAPP Systems, a major supplier of photopolymer printing plates. In 1996, he left NAPP to join UCB Chemicals, a supplier of Radiation Curable Monomers and Oligomers, as the Global R&D Director followed by the VP of Global R&D. Mike was the Principal Research Fellow in Cytec with a focus on global research in UV/EB curable and Electronics Materials from 2007 to 2011.

In 2003, Mike received the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievements to the Radiation Curing Industry from RadTech North America. Active in RadTech North America, the leading industrial Association for Energy Curing, Mike was Editor in Chief for the RadTech Report from 2002 to 2006 followed by election in 2006 as Secretary on the RadTech North America Executive Board of Directors. Mike has served as President of RadTech North America for the 2009 to 2010 term. Mike has also served on the FlexTech Alliance Technology Council for 2009 – 2011 and served as chair for the Council in 2011. In addition, Mike has served as a co-chair for the FlexTech Flexible Electronics conference from 2009 to 2015 and as conference advisor for the 2016 FlexTech conference.

Mike became the Vice President of Business Development in 2011 with a focus on UV Curable industrial coatings, 3D Printing resins and adhesives for PL Industries, a division of Esstech Inc.  Mike moved in 2015 to the position as the Vice President of Business Development for CPS. In this role, Mike worked as the liaison between customers and CPS in addition to serving as a technical advisor on a wide range of UV and EB curing projects. Currently, Mike is serving as an advisor and consultant to RadTech and multiple established and start-up companies in the UV and EB curable market.  Mike is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at SUNY-ESF in Syracuse, NY teaching courses in UV and EB curing technology and UV Curable 3D Printing.