J. Eur. Opt. Society-Rapid Publ. 22, 41( 2026) 405
Conclusion
These first results show that it is possible to predict the heating of complicated geometries by IR irradiation with sufficient precision. The simulation model with simplified scatter models for the powder coating delivers accurate results to predict the required heating power. Differences between the temperature distribution in the thermal images and the irradiance distributions are evidence for the need to include thermal effects into the model for more accurate predictions.
The next challenge will be to create a process and as a long term objective a tool which helps to define irradiation power sequences that lead to a more homogenous temperature distribution for easy and fast use at the production line.
Outlook
Next steps will be the investigation of different heating profiles with periods of reduced power to keep the temperature level after initial heating and to verify sufficient temperature homogeneity at the sample surface. This is vital for the application in powder coating with respect to the narrow curing process window of industrial powders. An additional thermal simulation using the results of the optical simulation as input will be carried out to include heat flow inside the sample and convection. When feasibility of the process in principle has proven, a larger research project will be initialised to investigate processes during the curing of the powder and possible impacts of the coating colour on the process.
Glossary
NIR |
Near Infra Red |
SWIR |
Short Wave Infra Red |
NAPUBEST |
Nachhaltige |
Pulverbeschichtungs-Technologie: |
sustainable powder coating technology |
NETZ |
Technology Transfer Center for Sustainable |
Energies |
BSDF |
Bidirectional Scatter Distribution Function |
FRED |
Optical simulation software for non sequential ray |
tracing by Photon Engineering |
HDR / THR Hemispherical Directional Reflectivity( includes specular |
reflection) / Total Hemispherical Reflection |
DDR / DHR
Diffuse Hemispherical Directional Reflectivity( excludes specular reflection) / Diffuse Hemispherical Reflection)
Funding
This research was funded by The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts within the scope of the transfer initiative Hightech Transfer Bayern. The Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts has granted start-up funding of € 5 million to Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences to establish a technology transfer centre for sustainable energy( NETZ) in Alzenau / Germany, together with regional companies and municipal partners.
Conflicts of interest The authors have nothing to disclose.
Data availability statement The research data are available on request from the authors.
Author contribution statement
Conceptualization, T. D., E. S. and M. K..; Methodology, T. D., E. S. and M. K..; Validation, T. D., E. S. and M. K.; Formal Analysis, M. K.; Writing – Original Draft Preparation, M. K.; Writing – Review & Editing, T. D., E. S..; Visualization, M. K.; Project Administration, M. K.; T. D.; Funding Acquisition, T. D.
References
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