Comprehensive Guide to Light Curing Technology
32Pages

Comprehensive Guide to DYMAX UV LIGHT CURING TECHNOLOGY Making Manufacturers More Efficient

0 1. DYMAX CORPORATION 1.1 ABOUT DYMAX Dymax Corporation was founded in 1980. The first products developed and sold were based on its patented two-part structural acrylic adhesive systems, primarily to the automotive market. Within several years, Dymax introduced the first practical, structuralstrength light-curable adhesive. Today, Dymax has over $30 million in annual revenue and over 200 employees globally. Approximately 50% of sales are to countries outside of the United States. Dymax Corporation is ISO 9001 certified. The corporate headquarters is in Torrington, Connecticut with wholly...

1. DYMAX CORPORATION 1.2 WHAT DOES DYMAX SELL? Light-Curable Materials* (LCMs) and light-curing equipment about the uses, properties, and advantages of these fast- make up the majority of Dymax’s sales. Dymax is the only setting, high-strength magnet and metal bonding adhesive major manufacturer of both light-curable materials and light- systems. curing equipment. This focus on light-curing technology coupled with the synergy produced by designing both the Dymax has developed over 3,000 light-curable products. The materials and equipment, uniquely positions Dymax as the products are sold...

1. DYMAX CORPORATION 1.4 ADVANTAGES OF DYMAX-LIGHT CURABLE MATERIALS (LCMs) Limitations of Light-Curable Materials (LCMs) Each Dymax customer will perceive and realize a unique set As with all products, there are limitations associated with of benefits from Dymax products, but there are a few LCMs. The most obvious limitation of LCMs is that they are features/benefits that Dymax customers consistently cite: only appropriate in applications where, after assembly, the LCM can be exposed to light*. Where light-curing technology FEATURE Fast Light Cures “On Demand” One-Component BENEFIT and...

1. DYMAX CORPORATION Each potential adhesive/coating application and customer will have a unique set of requirements, and for each application there are chemistries that fit well and those that don’t fit as well. The following section highlights the advantages of Dymax LCMs versus competing chemistries. Be aware that an advantage shared by both chemistries will not be listed, i.e. “no mixing” is not listed as an advantage in the section comparing Dymax LCMs to hot melts since neither technology requires mixing. 1.5.1 VERSUS ONE-PART SILICONES Indicates Superiority Dymax LCM Silicone Feature...

1. DYMAX CORPORATION 1.5.3 VERSUS TWO-PART EPOXIES Indicates Superiority Dymax LCM Feature Two-Part Epoxy Faster Cures – 100% cure in 1-30 seconds versus epoxies that require several hours at room temperature or minutes with high-temperature cure. Meter Mix Equipment Not Required Unlimited Pot Life Do Not Require Purge Cycles that Result in Hazardous Waste Better Impact Resistance Both Flexible and Rigid Formulations Available Can be Better for Applications Requiring Extreme Chemical Resistance Less Expensive Per Pound Light-Curing Equipment is Not Required Bonds Opaque Substrates 1.5.4...

1. DYMAX CORPORATION 1.5.6 VERSUS HOT MELTS Indicates Superiority Dymax LCM Hot Melts Feature “Cure on Demand” – Dymax LCMs have an unlimited “open time” unlike hot melts that begin curing immediately upon dispensing. Stronger Bonds Hot Melt Guns and Heated Pots / Lines Not Required No Risk of Burning Workers Higher Temperature Resistance Optically Clear Formulations Available Less Prone to Environmental Degradation Less Likely to Damage Heat Sensitive Substrates Wide Range of Viscosities Available Not Stringy – Unlike hot melts which can be stringy during dispensing. Light-Curing Equipment...

2. DYMAX LIGHT-CURABLE MATERIALS (LCMs) 2.1 THE CHEMISTRY BEHIND DYMAX LIGHT-CURABLE MATERIALS (LCMs) Dymax LCMs contain ingredients known as photoinitiators. Photoinitiators begin the curing reaction upon exposure to certain wavelengths of light. Dymax LCMs are usually onecomponent mixtures of oligomers, monomers, photoinitiators, and modifiers (hardness modifiers, colorants, fluorescing agents, thickeners, wetting agents, etc.). Over 95% of Dymax LCMs are acrylates (a urethane backbone with an acrylic functional group). The balances are cationic epoxies. Be aware that acrylates and...

2. DYMAX LIGHT-CURABLE MATERIALS (LCMs) ■ Substrate(s) – The adhesion of a Dymax material is dependent upon the formulation and the substrate(s). For example, Ultra Light-Weld® 4-20418 offers terrific bond strength to polycarbonate and moderate adhesion to metal, whereas Multi-Cure® 6-621 offers terrific adhesion to glass and metal and moderate adhesion to polycarbonate. ■ Coatings – When considering adhesion, it is important to consider surface cleanliness and whether or not the surface is treated, painted or plated. For example, Dymax’s best aluminum adhesive might not be the best...

2. DYMAX LIGHT-CURABLE MATERIALS (LCMs) 2.2.5 HARDNESS AND FLEXIBILITY The hardness of a Dymax material is generally measured on of time. For example, many Dymax products can withstand a one of three hardness scales, Shore –OO (softest), Shore A solder reflow process that can reach temperatures over (soft), and Shore D (hard). Dymax LCMs can be formulated 230C, but only for a few minutes. The recommended temperature limits listed on each product data sheet are (shore D 90), and anywhere in between. In general, softer determined by evaluating the stress/strain curves of a virgin materials...

2. DYMAX LIGHT-CURABLE MATERIALS (LCMs) may be unsuitable for another application where more resin is exposed. Dymax recommends that chemical resistance testing relevant to the customer's application be performed during validation. Moisture resistance in a particular application, like chemical resistance, is also difficult to quantify without specific testing since there are so many variables that affect it. Moisture resistance, however, is such a common inquiry that Dymax conducts moisture absorption testing on most of its LCMs. About 90% of Dymax materials absorb less than 10% of their...