Created on 01.12

Short-Wave vs Medium-Wave IR for Paint Drying: Selection Guide

“Short-wave” and “medium-wave” IR are widely used labels, but the exact boundaries can vary by industry and context. IPAC

For paint drying, the practical question is simpler: which option gives you the most stable temperature ramp and defect-free film formation at your target line speed?

This guide helps you choose based on process goals, substrate sensitivity, coating behavior, and control strategy—with a selection checklist you can use before requesting a quote.

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What “short-wave” vs “medium-wave” means for industrial drying

Rather than chasing exact wavelength numbers, focus on these process differences:

Short-wave IR (often chosen for speed and responsiveness)

Faster response for start/stop production
High intensity possible in compact footprints
Good fit when you need quick recipe changes and tight control

Medium-wave IR (often chosen for gentler ramps and stability)

More forgiving heating profile for sensitive finishes or substrates
Easier to build “gentle → effective → stabilize” staged heating
Helpful when defect risk rises with aggressive early heating

Important: coating absorption and substrate reflectivity can change the result. Optical properties matter, and they’re measurable across broad IR ranges. NIST

Selection first, tuning second

Think of wavelength choice as selecting your “process window.” Then you tune:

distance (heat flux)
zone power (ramp shape)
line speed (dwell time)

If your process is already defect-limited (solvent pop, blistering, gloss variation), picking the option with a wider stable window is usually the fastest path to throughput.

When short-wave IR is usually the better choice

Choose short-wave when your priority is throughput + responsiveness, and you can manage early-zone aggressiveness with staged control:

High line speeds with limited installation length
Frequent product changes (many recipes)
Need quick ramp-up and fast stabilization
Retrofits where compact, high-intensity modules are necessary

Watch-outs:

Short-wave setups can become defect-prone if Zone 1 is too aggressive (surface skinning → trapped solvent → downstream popping). When defects appear “later,” don’t assume the main oven is the problem—early ramp shape is often the trigger.

When medium-wave IR is usually the better choice

Choose medium-wave when your priority is process stability, especially for sensitive substrates or finishes:

Heat-sensitive parts (many plastics/composites)
Thick wet films or higher solvent load coatings
Appearance-critical coatings where leveling is sensitive to rapid surface setting
Lines where operators need a wider “safe” window across product variation

Watch-outs:

If line speed is very high, medium-wave may need more effective zoning or more heating length to maintain target outcomes.

A practical decision matrix (use this before you buy)

Your situation	Often a better starting point
Very high speed, short available length	Short-wave
Frequent start/stop, many recipes	Short-wave
Heat-sensitive substrate or risk of warpage	Medium-wave
Solvent pop / blistering risk is high	Medium-wave (or hybrid)
Appearance variation (gloss/texture) is the pain point	Medium-wave + staged ramp
You need maximum stability across part families	Medium-wave
You have strong zoning + temperature monitoring capability	Either (choose by throughput goals)

The conversion-friendly answer: use a staged or hybrid approach

In many real lines, the best outcome comes from staged heating (and sometimes mixing heater types across zones):

Early zone: gentle pre-warm / controlled flash-off start
Mid zone: effective evaporation / drying
Late zone: stabilization / equalization before cure

This reduces the main root cause of defects: too much energy too early.

If you already have defects, prioritize a gentler early zone and better vapor management before chasing more intensity.

What to specify in your RFQ (so you get the right recommendation)

To recommend short-wave vs medium-wave correctly, you should provide:

coating type (solvent-based / water-based / powder) and target finish requirements
wet film thickness range and variability
substrate (metal/plastic) + part geometry (edges, ribs, recesses)
line speed targets and available heating length
defect history (solvent pop, pinholes, uneven gloss, under-dry)
control requirements (zoning, temperature monitoring, recipe changes)

For standard terminology and evaluation concepts around drying/curing stages, test methods such as ASTM D1640 are commonly referenced in coatings work. ASTM International | ASTM

Commissioning checklist (fast, low-risk)

Lock a safe distance that tolerates part height variation
Build a staged ramp (do not peak power in Zone 1)
Balance zones for edge/center and geometry hotspots
Increase line speed in small steps with recipe updates
Document “good” recipes for each coating/substrate family

[ Setup guide]

FAQ

1) Can I decide wavelength purely by coating type?

Not reliably. Coating behavior matters, but substrate, geometry, thickness variation, and line speed often decide whether the process window is stable.

2) If I have solvent pop, should I switch to medium-wave?

Medium-wave often helps because it supports gentler early ramps—but staged heating, zoning, and vapor removal are just as important. Fix the ramp shape first.

3) Is short-wave always “stronger” and medium-wave always “safer”?

Not always. Control strategy and distance can flip the outcome. A well-controlled short-wave system can be stable, and a poorly staged medium-wave setup can still defect.

4) What’s the safest way to increase throughput after selecting a heater type?

Increase speed in steps, adjust zone recipes accordingly, and validate defect-free stability over time (not just immediately after the flash-off zone).

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Short-Wave vs Medium-Wave IR for Paint Drying: Selection Guide

What “short-wave” vs “medium-wave” means for industrial drying

Short-wave IR (often chosen for speed and responsiveness)

Medium-wave IR (often chosen for gentler ramps and stability)

Selection first, tuning second

When short-wave IR is usually the better choice

When medium-wave IR is usually the better choice

A practical decision matrix (use this before you buy)

The conversion-friendly answer: use a staged or hybrid approach

What to specify in your RFQ (so you get the right recommendation)

Commissioning checklist (fast, low-risk)

FAQ

1) Can I decide wavelength purely by coating type?

2) If I have solvent pop, should I switch to medium-wave?

3) Is short-wave always “stronger” and medium-wave always “safer”?

4) What’s the safest way to increase throughput after selecting a heater type?

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