Cure monitoring systems and methods

US10746660B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Douglas L. Elmore · Plymouth, US
• Korbinian Gerlach · Gauting, DE
• Gregory A. Kobussen · Woodbury, US
• Jack W. Lai · Lake Elmo, US
• Joel D. Oxman · Minneapolis, US
• Rudolf Schmid · Basel, CH
• Stefan Welker · Schmölln, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 24, 2017
• Grant date: Aug 18, 2020
• Expiry date: Jul 24, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2201/1224
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Cure monitoring systems for and methods of monitoring polymerizable material to determine the degree of curing of the polymerizable material. A monitoring light source delivers visible monitoring light at one or more different visible wavelengths and a visible light detector detects the monitoring light diffusely reflected by the polymerizable material. The monitoring light has a wavelength of maximum emission (λmax-mon) that does not effectively induce polymerization of the polymerizable material. Change in intensity of the monitoring light reflected from the polymerizable material is used to determine when a selected degree of curing is reached in the polymerizable material.