Adhesives specialist introduces new light-curable product

Adhesives specialist Intertronics is supplying the expanded product range of Dymax Encompass adhesives, a technology that combines See-Cure colour change and Ultra-Red fluorescence into one light-curable product.

This combination aims to allow manufacturers to benefit from the production efficiencies associated with on-demand curing, while also safeguarding against quality issues.

In their uncured state, Dymax Encompass adhesives are blue, enabling visual confirmation of the adhesive’s quantity and placement. See-Cure technology means that they will transition to clear after they have been exposed to sufficient UV curing light, which visually confirms that the adhesive is cured.

Due to the incorporation of Ultra-Red technology, the adhesives fluoresce red under black light so that manufacturers can inspect the bond-line post cure, either as a manual or automated process. It is particularly effective when bonding plastics that naturally fluoresce blue, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It produces a unique energy peak that cannot be reproduced by other compounds, which means that manufacturers can assemble or mark their products for positive identification.

Dymax Encompass adhesives are available in formulations which are curable with LED-based UV curing equipment, and in grades which have passed ISO 10993 biocompatibility testing for use within medical devices. 

Peter Swanson, managing director of Intertronics, said: “This technology offers manufacturers benefits at each step of their process. Before and after curing, manufacturers can assurance of the quality of the assembled product, as well as improve the speed and efficiency of their process.

“Design engineers are continually required to develop medical devices or electronics products of superior quality and reliability. Dymax Encompass adhesives offer benefits in accuracy, repeatability and verification and require no special equipment or additional space.”