Cure - What does cure mean?

Answer:

This term refers to the process by which a polymer material is hardened through the cross-linking of polymer chains; the curing process usually involves the conversion of a polymer material from a liquid form into a solid form via a chemical reaction, which is caused by the introduction of chemical additives, radiation, heat (with or without pressure), or moisture. The process may also be called UV Cure (where the radiation is in the form of UV light) or vulcanisation (when the material being cured is rubber).

In labelling, some adhesives, coatings, and printing inks rely on a curing process to harden into a solid form. Adhesives that undergo curing may be referred to as “reactive adhesives” and are divided into “multi-part adhesives” (made of two or more components that chemically react with each other) or “one-part adhesives” (cure via a chemical reaction with an external energy source, such as radiation, heat, or moisture).