Photonic Curing – PulseForge 1300

The PulseForge 1300 system from NovaCentrix is a research and development tool for rapid photonic curing with pulsed light from a powerful xenon flash lamp.

What is photonic curing?

Photonic curing is the high temperature thermal processing of a thin film using pulsed light from a xenon flash lamp. When this transient processing is done on a low temperature substrate such as plastic or paper, it is possible to attain a significantly higher temperature than the substrate can ordinarily withstand in a conventional oven.
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Photonic curing (Image: NovaCentrix)
Key specification
  • Max radiant energy delivered (J/cm2)                                                     45
  • Peak radiant power delivered (kW/cm2)                                                24
  • Output spectrum (nm)                                                                 200–1500
  • Pulse length range (microseconds)                                            25–10,000
  • Max pulse rate                                                                                       >kHz
  • Effective max linear processing speed (meters/min)                           30
  • Max area cured per sample (mm)                                               300 x 150
  • Environmental chamber for controlled atmosphere and substrate heating
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Photonic Curing System PulseForge 1300
Examples of processed materials
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Image: DTF Technology

Depending on the pulse energy, duration, shape and repetition several effects can be tailored ranging from drying and curing to defect anneling, sintering and re-crystallization. Examples of processed materials include printed metal and carbon-based inks, compound semiconductors and even refractory oxides. You find more information on the webpages of the Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics.