Patent Description:
When manufacturing liquid crystals used for TVs, etc., a photocuring process using ultraviolet light may be performed, and in this case, a defect issue may occur due to outgas generated from products exposed to light such as ultraviolet light. Therefore, there is a demand for a technology for analyzing the gas generated by simulating process conditions for a product.

In general, a UV irradiation apparatus is an open system, and it was difficult to collect the gas generated during UV curing and utilize it for analysis. In addition, a pretreatment apparatus for collecting outgas was only possible to control the temperature, but it was impossible to expose the sample during heating.

There is a need for a technology for collecting gas generated in the process of photocuring with various wavelengths of light including ultraviolet light.

<CIT> describes that flash light is emitted from flash lamps to the surface of a semiconductor substrate on which a metal layer has been formed for one second or less to momentarily raise temperature on the surface of the semiconductor substrate including the metal layer and an impurity region to a processing temperature of <NUM>° C. Heat treatment is performed by emitting flash light to the surface of the semiconductor substrate in a forming gas atmosphere containing hydrogen.

<CIT> discloses that a pump liner is used to direct a laminar flow of purge gas across a workpiece to remove contaminants or species outgassed or otherwise produced by the workpiece during processing. The pump liner can take the form of a ring having a plurality of injection ports, such as slits of a variety of shapes and/or sizes, opposite a plurality of receiving ports in order to provide the laminar flow. The flow of purge gas is sufficient to carry a contaminant or outgassed species from the processing chamber in order to prevent the collection of the contaminants on components of the chamber.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas as defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas for collecting gas generated from a sample while performing photocuring of the sample with various light wavelengths including ultraviolet light.

An apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas according to the present invention includes:.

According to an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to collect gas generated from a material to be analyzed during photocuring by simulating a photocuring process using various light wavelengths including ultraviolet light.

According to an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to accurately identify and analyze a cause of a gas defect.

According to an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain gas generated in the photocuring process according to various wavelengths of light including ultraviolet light by simultaneously performing exposure and heating.

According to an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to easily replace the light source unit, so that gas may be collected in various wavelength bands.

In the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of an example embodiment, the transparent cover part may be a quartz plate.

In the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of an example embodiment, a plurality of coupling grooves may be formed on the upper surface of the body part, a coupling hole may be formed in the transparent cover part at a position facing the plurality of coupling grooves, and a fixing means may pass through the coupling hole and be inserted into the coupling groove, so that the transparent cover part may be coupled to the body part.

In the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiment, the light source unit may be configured to irradiate light downward from a lower surface as a surface light source.

In the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiment, the light source unit may be mounted on the chamber unit so that the lower surface of the light source unit may contact the upper surface of the chamber unit.

In the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiment, a refrigerant circulation flow path through which refrigerant flows may be formed on an upper surface of the light source unit.

Hereinafter, an example embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the size or shape of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, terms specifically defined in consideration of the configuration and operation of the present disclosure may vary depending on the intention or custom of a user or operator. Definitions of these terms should be made based on the context throughout this specification.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside", "one side", and "the other side" are based on orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings or orientation or positional relationships usually of disposition when a product according to the present disclosure is used, are merely for the description and brief illustration of the present disclosure, and should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure because they are not suggesting or implying that the indicated apparatus or element must be configured or operated in the specified orientation.

<FIG> is a conceptual diagram illustrating an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating an oven unit. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a chamber unit. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a transparent cover part. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a body part. <FIG> is a graph illustrating a gas collection result according to an experimental example.

Hereinafter, the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include,.

In the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of the present disclosure, the chamber unit <NUM> which is easily detachable may be accommodated in a heating space <NUM> in the oven unit <NUM> with temperature control, the sample <NUM> is mounted in the sample accommodating space <NUM> that is an enclosed space formed inside the chamber unit <NUM>, and the gas generated in the sample <NUM> by the light irradiated by the light source unit <NUM> mounted on the upper surface of the chamber unit <NUM> may be moved from the sample accommodating space <NUM> to the gas collection tube and collected. In other words, the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of the present disclosure may be capable of collecting gas components generated in the photocuring process performed in various temperature environments through the oven unit <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the oven unit <NUM> may have a heating space <NUM> formed therein, in which the chamber unit <NUM> is accommodated. The heating space <NUM> of the oven unit <NUM> may be adjusted to a temperature of <NUM> to <NUM>. At least one of a coil heater, an infrared lamp, an induction heating heater, a dielectric heating heater, a warm air system, a heating pad, and a heating jacket may be provided in the oven unit <NUM> as a heating means for heating the heating space <NUM>. Specifically, the oven unit <NUM> may be formed in a bowl shape with an open upper surface. In other words, the chamber unit <NUM> may be accommodated in the heating space <NUM> through the open upper surface of the oven unit <NUM>. At least one of a coil heater, an infrared lamp, an induction heating heater, a dielectric heating heater, a warm air system, a heating pad, and a heating jacket may be located on the lower surface or sidewall of the oven unit <NUM> as the heating means.

After the chamber unit <NUM> is accommodated in the heating space <NUM> of the oven unit <NUM>, the open upper surface of the oven unit <NUM> may be covered with a cover means (not shown). The cover means may be provided in the shape of a flat plate perpendicular to the vertical direction. An opening through which the purge gas injection flow path <NUM> and the outgas discharge flow path <NUM> pass may be formed in the cover means. The light source unit <NUM> is located between the lower part of the cover means and the upper part of the chamber unit <NUM>, and a reflective material for concentrating the light emitted from the light source unit <NUM> to the sample <NUM> may be coated or laminated on the lower surface of the cover means.

The purge gas injection flow path <NUM> may be a flow path connecting the chamber unit <NUM> located inside the oven unit and the purge gas supplying apparatus located outside the oven unit. The purge gas supplying apparatus may be a tank in which the purge gas is compressed and stored, or a pump for injecting the purge gas. The purge gas may be any one selected from N<NUM>, Air, He, Ar, and combinations thereof. The purge gas may be injected into the sample accommodating space <NUM> of the chamber unit <NUM> through the purge gas injection flow path <NUM> at a flow rate of up to <NUM>/min.

The outgas discharge flow path <NUM> may be a flow path connecting the chamber unit <NUM> located inside the oven unit and a gas collection pipe or a gas analysis apparatus located outside the oven unit. The gas collection tube collects and stores gas, and may be, for example, a Tenax (Poly(<NUM>,<NUM>-diphenylphenylene oxide)) (GR, TA, etc.) adsorption tube. The gas analysis apparatus may be, for example, a gas chromatography (GC) apparatus.

As shown in <FIG>, the chamber unit <NUM> may include a body part <NUM> in which a sample mounting groove <NUM> is formed as the sample accommodating space <NUM> on an upper surface; and a transparent cover part <NUM> that covers the sample mounting groove <NUM> and is coupled to the upper surface of the body part <NUM>.

The transparent cover part <NUM> may be a quartz plate. The transparent cover part <NUM> may be provided with an area of, for example, a width of <NUM> and a length of <NUM> or more. The transparent cover part <NUM> may be formed of a material that transmits <NUM>% or more of the light having a wavelength of <NUM> to <NUM> irradiated by the light source unit <NUM>. In other words, the light irradiated by the light source unit <NUM> may be transmitted through the transparent cover part <NUM>.

An inlet <NUM> through which the purge gas is injected and an outlet <NUM> through which the outgas is discharged may be formed in the transparent cover part <NUM>, and the purge gas injection flow path <NUM> may be connected to the inlet <NUM>, and the outgas discharge flow path <NUM> may be connected to the outlet <NUM>.

The inlet <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> may be located on the transparent cover part <NUM> with the sample <NUM> interposed therebetween. Accordingly, the purge gas injected into the inlet <NUM> may be discharged to the outlet <NUM> through the sample <NUM>.

The transparent cover part <NUM> may cover the sample mounting groove <NUM> formed in the body part <NUM>, and the inner space of the sample mounting groove <NUM> may be formed as the sample accommodating space <NUM>. The inner space of the sample mounting groove <NUM> may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped. For example, the sample mounting groove <NUM> formed in the body part <NUM> may have a width of <NUM>, a length of <NUM>, and a depth of <NUM>. The sample <NUM> may be mounted on the bottom of the sample mounting groove <NUM>.

A coupling groove <NUM> is formed on the upper surface of the body part <NUM>, and a coupling hole <NUM> is formed in the transparent cover part <NUM> at a position facing the plurality of coupling grooves <NUM>, and a fixing means <NUM> may pass through the coupling hole <NUM> and be inserted into the coupling groove <NUM>, so that the transparent cover part <NUM> may be coupled to the body part <NUM>. For example, the fixing means <NUM> may be a bolt. For example, a screw thread may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the coupling groove <NUM> to be screwed with the fixing means <NUM>. The coupling groove <NUM> and the coupling hole <NUM> may be provided in a plurality of pairs. For example, eight pairs may be provided, and two may be formed at a position adjacent to each corner on the rectangular transparent cover part <NUM> and the upper surface of the body part <NUM>. The fixing means <NUM> is not limited to a bolt, and may be coupled to the coupling groove <NUM> or the coupling hole <NUM> in a one-touch coupling method such as a clamp pin or an anchor. Alternatively, the fixing means is provided in the form of a clip, and without the coupling groove <NUM> and the coupling hole <NUM>, the edge portions of the cover part <NUM> and the body part <NUM> are simultaneously bitten by the fixing means, and the cover part <NUM> and the body part <NUM> may be fixed in a state coupled to each other.

The light source unit <NUM> may be a UV LED. The light source unit <NUM> may be a surface light source that irradiates light downward from the lower surface. In other words, the light source unit <NUM> may be provided in a plate shape, for example, may have an area of <NUM> in width and <NUM> in length. The size of the light source unit <NUM> may be determined in consideration of the size of the sample <NUM>, and may be extended to the maximum size of the sample mounting groove <NUM> according to the size of the sample <NUM>. For example, it may be formed with an area of <NUM> in width and <NUM> in length. The light source unit <NUM> may be mounted on the chamber unit <NUM> so that the lower surface of the light source unit <NUM> contacts the upper surface of the chamber unit <NUM>. In other words, the light source unit <NUM> may be mounted on the transparent cover part <NUM> so that the light emitting surface contacts the transparent cover part <NUM>. With the above structure, when the wavelength of the light irradiated to the sample <NUM> is to be changed, the wavelength can be easily changed by simply replacing the light source unit <NUM> provided with a UV LED panel or the like.

The temperature of the heating space <NUM> of the oven unit <NUM> and the light intensity of the light source unit <NUM> may be controlled by the control unit.

A refrigerant circulation flow path <NUM> through which the refrigerant flows may be formed on an upper surface of the light source unit <NUM>. Antifreeze may circulate and flow in the refrigerant circulation flow path <NUM>. The refrigerant circulation flow path <NUM> may be connected to a heat exchanging apparatus located outside the oven unit <NUM> through a flow path. The heat exchanging apparatus may be one that absorbs the heat of the antifreeze.

As shown in <FIG>, a cable 200a for supplying power or a control signal input and controlling the intensity of a light source is connected to the light source unit <NUM>, and a refrigerant supply pipe 210a for supplying antifreeze may be connected to the refrigerant circulation flow path <NUM>. The covering material of the cable 200a and the material of the refrigerant supply pipe 210a are provided with a flexible material, so that it is possible to easily change the position of the light source unit <NUM>. For example, the covering material of the cable 200a and the material of the refrigerant supply pipe 210a may be a silicone tube, a Tygon tube, or the like.

In a state in which the transparent cover part <NUM> was separated, the liquid crystal coating solution was put as the sample <NUM> in the sample mounting groove <NUM> of the body part <NUM> and dried at a temperature of <NUM> for <NUM> hour.

The transparent cover part <NUM> was coupled to the body part <NUM>, and without light irradiation through UV LED, gas was collected in a Tenax adsorption tube at a temperature of <NUM> at a rate of <NUM>/min for <NUM> minutes, and then analyzed through a GC apparatus. This process was repeated <NUM> times.

The transparent cover part <NUM> was coupled to the body part <NUM>, and the sample <NUM> was irradiated with a UV LED of <NUM> at a temperature of <NUM> for <NUM> minutes.

The gas generated by irradiating the sample <NUM> with light was collected in a Tenax adsorption tube at a rate of <NUM>/min for <NUM> minutes, and then analyzed through a GC apparatus.

Table <NUM> is a table showing the experimental results for Experimental Examples <NUM> and <NUM>. As shown in Table <NUM>, the experiment was performed with high reproducibility with an RSD value of less than <NUM>%. <FIG> is a graph illustrating the experimental results of Experimental Examples <NUM> and <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, it may be seen that, by using the apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of the present disclosure, the gas additionally generated when light is irradiated through the UV LED is collected as indicated in Experimental Example <NUM>.

According to an apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas of example embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to accurately identify and analyze the cause of a gas defect.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for collecting photocuring generated gas, comprising:
a chamber unit (<NUM>) with a sample accommodating space (<NUM>) formed therein, in which a sample (<NUM>) is accommodated;
a light source unit (<NUM>) configured to irradiate light to an upper surface of the chamber unit (<NUM>);
an oven unit (<NUM>) provided with a heating space (<NUM>) accommodating the chamber unit (<NUM>) therein;
a purge gas injection flow path (<NUM>) for injecting a purge gas into the sample accommodating space (<NUM>);
an outgas discharge flow path (<NUM>) for discharging outgas generated in the sample accommodating space (<NUM>) to a gas collection pipe located outside the sample accommodating space (<NUM>);
wherein the chamber unit (<NUM>) comprises:
a body part (<NUM>) with a sample mounting groove (<NUM>) formed on an upper surface thereof as the sample accommodating space (<NUM>); and
a transparent cover part (<NUM>) configured to cover the sample mounting groove (<NUM>) and coupled to the upper surface of the body part (<NUM>),
wherein the light irradiated by the light source unit (<NUM>) is transmitted through the transparent cover part (<NUM>),
characterized in that
an inlet (<NUM>) through which the purge gas is injected and an outlet (<NUM>) through which the outgas is discharged are formed in the transparent cover part (<NUM>),
the purge gas injection flow path (<NUM>) is connected to the inlet (<NUM>), and
the outgas discharge flow path (<NUM>) is connected to the outlet (<NUM>).