The photons exiting from UV radiation sources can be counted, measured and evaluated opto-electronically using measuring instrument techniques. First of all UV measuring technology can provide qualified statements of functionality, operating condition and results of an instrument. In addition, UV measuring technology can be used to validate procedures and monitor these either intermittently or in the course of quality control regimes.

In equipment design it is important to identify unwanted scatter radiation so that this can be eliminated.

Basically we should distinguish between:

• Hand-held meters (radiometers) with replaceable sensors
• Integrators or dosage meters with built-in photodiodes for dosage identification, for example in flow through curing systems.
• Integrated built-in sensors in equipment and the associated evaluation via interface points, with the possibility of transfer to supervisory control systems (SPS). Alternatively, UV monitors with their own signal processing can be used and these transmit output signals and analogue measurement values to supervisory control systems. Conventionally, UV monitors are fitted with a display to show the measured value.

In practice, the relative measurement process is generally used. With this, the output value relating to the “hundred hours value” is accepted as the zero point and the radiation fall-off is controlled and documented. This is easy to achieve and is usually sufficient.

Sensors undergo aging and must be recalibrated at regular intervals to maintain correct results.

The physical measurement of UV radiation can fast become very complex when concepts such as radiation density, radial distribution, field distribution and photometric distance laws come into play.

Typical Applications:

• Process validation
• Quality control
• Scatter radiation measurement
• Identification and checking of spectrum efficacy
• Determination of photo-toxological limit values
• Light source surveys
• Reflexion measurement
• Transmission measurements
• Validation of material aging investigations
• Absorption measurements
• Actinometric measuring procedures for photon counting.
• Dosage identification in radiation systems
• Definition of standards to allow comparison of instruments and systems from different manufacturers
• Certification of lamps and instruments.

We work in partnership in industry and research with the accredited and independent measurement laboratory of Heraeus Noblelight GmbH and look  forward to solving your problems.