Effect of exposure to UV-C rays on fire retardancy and adherence of curable polymer resins for application in disinfection chambers

This article discusses the effect of UV-C radiation on two types of cured polymer resins, epoxy and polyester, intended for use in disinfection chambers. The exposure of the samples to UV-C rays lasted 168 h. Our evaluation covered two aspects: the effect of UV-C rays on the flammability and flame retardancy of the resins, and the effect of UV-C rays on the adhesion of the resins to the steel substrate. It was found that the applied halogen and halogen-free organophosphate agents can be used for the tested resins under UV-C conditions (e.g. disinfection chambers), and no negative impact of UV-C radiation on the performance of these flame retardants was found. The use of the tested types of resins in the form of thin coatings on a steel substrate is feasible in disinfection chambers under UV-C radiation conditions, as the obtained results indicate that the radiation did not affect the adhesion of the coating. The visible effect of UV-C radiation on both the tested resins was discoloration, giving yellow and brown colors. Our results suggest that further studies, probably involving longer UV-C exposure, would be advisable.