Curing
Term: Curing
Category: Chemistry / Material Science
Definition: Any chemical or physical method that transforms a liquid or plastic-like polymer/resin/coating into a solid/semi-rigid, crosslinked (if applicable) or “set”-like substance with significantly greater mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties than its liquid form. By curing a substance, its overall physical characteristics (i.e., strength, adhesion to substrates, ability to resist solvent attack, and durability) can be dramatically enhanced, allowing for a wide variety of potential uses in industrial, biomedical, and structural applications.
Common Uses:
- Formation of hydrophilic or protective coatings on medical devices
- Fabrication of adhesives, composites, and elastomers
- Production of structurally stable hydrogels and polymer networks for biomedical applications
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