Is InfraRed (IR) Light Required for Coating Curing?

[Lonnie]

I ask this question about IR curing for coatings and if it is required because I do not think that MOST (but not all) professional detailers that offer coatings do NOT do this. Maybe I am wrong with this assumption.
Yes, I realize if one reads the instructions on a particular manufacturer coating it would tell you if it is required or not.
I am just curious if customers ask this question of professional detailers who offer coatings, "Do you IR cure your coatings?" Nor am I sure if there is an up-charge for IR curing if it is optional for some coatings.

It also brings into question about "authorized installers" (detailers) applying coatings that in order to be authorized you HAVE to IR cure their coatings, again based on a particular coating manufacturer's requirements.

(Edited by OP to replace the incorrect Ultra Violet UV lights with the correct InfraRed IR. My bad...)

 

[Sizzle Chest]

Lonnie, I will say that most do NOT require it. I have lights in order to do it as it speeds up the 'cure time' if a client is in a rush.

They do use a ton of power and it is time consuming to utilize, however, I have not up charged a client for this service. (I may need to know that you mention it!)

 

[BudgetPlan1]

I believe it was IR lamps that used to be more prevalent for curing ceramic coatings. UV seems to be more common for the tracer infused coatings to help w application?


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[Lonnie]

Sorry, I meant InfraRed (IR) not Ultra Violet (UV).
Like cars need a sun tan, Captain Obvious.

I think Adam's Polishes introduced a coating for use with a Black Light to help in finding high spots.

 

[TroyScherer]

I'm not sure about "Pro Coatings" and their requirements. But my understanding for the use of IR cure lights was to simply speed up and possibly improve the cure time.

This would make sense to me for "pros" so that they don't have as many come-backs from coatings not fully curing and then getting washed, etc...



If I am remembering correctly back when coatings were first coming out the suggestion for some was to take the vehicle and put it out in the sun for as along as possible after doing the application. This is essentially a natural way of doing IR curing. I remember doing this for my first few CarPro coating and got much better durability than most at the time.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Sorry, I meant InfraRed (IR) not Ultra Violet (UV).
Like cars need a sun tan, Captain Obvious.

I think Adam's Car Care introduced a coating for use with a Black Light to help in finding high spots.

Hey, don't feel too bad, Lonnie, at one time I looked into headlight coatings because of my dissatisfaction with the paint coating-type products, and found that there is an aftermarket for UV-cured headlight coatings (like the factory coatings), so there are people using UV lights on (parts of) cars. This is for people that make a business of restoring headlights, which I guess is more prevalent in the lower latitudes.

If we're going to do our usual Autopia nostalgia, remember all the threads on using Spar varnish on headlights?

 

[Lonnie]

Setec (and Budget Plan):
So there ARE some types of coatings that use UV wavelength lighting for curing!? Did not know that...
Hey, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then.
No, I do not remember Spar varnish for headlight lenses. Even my "quick" correcting/polishing with Meg's M105 compound and M205 polish via a PC-DA produces acceptable results on hazy plastic Lexan headlight lenses (l call it cataract surgery on headlight lenses!)

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Here's one that's UV light (or sunlight) cured: https://glasweld.com/headlight-restoration/

Maybe the Spar stuff was on AGO, I only found a few threads here.

 

[Lonnie]

Since I know nothing about IR lighting curing of coatings, how long in hours of time does it take to fully cure a coated area on a vehicle with an IR light?? I also assume this is variable based on the size and intensity, however those are measured and their units value called, of the light fixture itself.
A high-quality IR light fixture(s) is(are) not an inexpensive (AKA, cheap) piece of detailing equipment to buy and use. You can do a Google search for such IR light fixtures and see what I mean. If some Autopian(s) wants to post what IR lighting fixtures they own and use or the detailing company they work for uses, please do, including the obligatory Captain Obvious request for detailed information about the manufacturer, model name and/or model number and any pertinent info about its IR lighting unit values.