drivers, such as miniaturisation, environmental, and health & safety demands, manufacturing yield improvement and total product cost. Recent advances include the introduction
of colour change and fluorescing technology, which builds in a way to visually confirm cure is complete. For example, See Cure technology is blue prior to cure, so the user can confirm adhesive placement. Following cure, the blue colour disappears, confirming the bond is secure. When combined with Ultra-Red fluorescing technology, manufacturers can perform easy bond line inspection or product authentication.
Traditionally, manufacturers have used broad spectrum UV lamps based on mercury vapour. The latest developments in the UV curing equipment market include LED UV curing
LED UV curing lamps produce a narrow
spectrum light centred around a specific wavelength
lamps, which produce a narrow spectrum light centred around a specific wavelength (ie. 385nm or 395nm). Their intensity (up to 40W/cm2
)
matches mercury vapour lamps, but their output in terms of wavelength is very different – the UV generated by LED lamps is very narrow spectrum. LED lamps are not a drop-in replacement for broad spectrum lamps; an adhesive formulated to cure with broad spectrum UV light may very well react differently to narrow spectrum LED light. Some changes to the process may therefore be necessary. LED lamps offer an attractive proposition,
so many manufacturers are making the switch. Firstly, they offer a consistent output and therefore an opportunity to reduce process variability. They are also longer lasting, providing negligible intensity degradation for up to 20,000 hours, compared with around 2,000 hours for a mercury arc lamp. There are no bulbs to replace and they run at lower temperatures, reducing the risk of thermal rise or damage to the substrate. The lack of warm up or cool down period means they can be used immediately, whereas a broad-spectrum lamp is typically left running all day, consuming more electricity. This ties in with a broader trend
around the sustainability of materials and equipment. As well as the benefits LED UV curing lamps can have to a process and the reduction in energy
%# &# + )%#* &%'##%#% $'$ %( ! % ! *#$' $%&#$&*%# %!#%&# !$ (%%##%#* #"&#%$ % %$%#* &%'#( &%$%(*# ! %$% #&$ %# $!!% $$&$ %$$%#' %%#*!!% $$&$ %%#* &$(#!$% !# ''%#% The flexible nature of MT3836 means it is compressible, which
reduces stress on sensitive components, especially if dissimilar materials are being bonded and differential thermal expansion and contraction forces put stress on the joint. The cured, flexible material absorbs impact and vibration, and is also electrically non-conductive. Permabond MT3836 is suitable for bonding a wide variety of materials
including metals, composites, polycarbonate, ABS, nylon and other plastics. Benefits of Permabond MT3836:
• Thermally conductive >1 W/(m.K) • Fire retardant to UL94-V0 • Electrically insulating • Elongation >100%, Shore A hardness 60 • Easy dispensing. Two components. Supplied in dual cartridges with mixing nozzles
• Full cure at room temperature (handling time 2-3 hours) • High viscosity – gap fill 5mm.
''' &%"#"" '('' 45
usage, they also facilitate the removal of mercury-based lamps. This is in line with the UN Environmental Programme’s commitment to phasing out mercury added products for the benefit of human health. We are seeing this reflected in materials as well as equipment; and more businesses are asking about the sustainability, requesting materials that are single part or solvent-free. Adhesive formulations are emerging that are
optimised to cure with the narrow spectrum output from LED UV curing lamps. The best approach is to evaluate an adhesive designed to be cured with LED UV equipment, working closely with a supplier who can offer matched materials and equipment.
As more complex applications emerge that require higher levels of repeatability and accuracy, more manufacturers are turning to more advanced materials, dispensing equipment, and automated technology. As businesses look for ways to make their supply chains for critical products more robust, manufacturers are reshoring the production of more components, and we expect to see continued demand for these products. In the meantime, we can keep an eye on which billionaire gets to space first…
&$"!$ $ '''
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