"I am trying to determine the proper cure time for the Loctite 3106 using a Dymax PC-5 Light Welder. Can you help?"

To determine the proper cure time of any light-curable adhesive when exposed to light from any light source, there are a couple of different approaches that can help. The greatest tool is a radiometer, which will tell you how much intensity you have at the bond line. The PC-5 is an older model flood lamp, with an intensity of 50-150 mW/cm² over a 5" x 5" area. The different approaches depend on how you are using the adhesive. If you are using the adhesive between two substrates in a bond-line thickness of 0.002-0.006 inches, then measuring the fixture time should be sufficient. Per the Loctite TDS, fixture time at this intensity should be <5 seconds. If you are potting a deeper section, then depth of cure is important, and you can reach a depth of 2 mm in approx 12 seconds. The Loctite TDS plots the depth of cure at an intensity of 50 mW/cm². If the adhesive bond line has some squeeze out, or has a surface exposed to air, then a tack-free surface cure may be important. Tack-free time is the point when the adhesive is sufficiently cured that you will not get smearing or residue transfer onto a gloved finger.

With any of the three described situations, measuring this yourself is the best way to figure out the proper cure time, whether looking at fixture time, depth of cure, or tack free time. Set the bond line up at the lowest intensity you can use – say 50 mW/cm². Do this by increasing the distance away from the lamp until the radiometer measures 50 mW/cm². (You will want to manufacture your parts at a higher intensity to start, and within a window of intensity and time. This will control your process.) After setting a constant intensity, cure the adhesive for different times. You will see the tensile strength, burst pressure, tack-free time, depth of cure, durometer, or other datapoint climb to a max value and then plateau. Once you have identified the start of the plateau, add a safety margin, and you have the foundation for your process. You can also set the time constant, vary the intensity, and record the same datapoints. You want to define your process by knowing the minimum and maximum intensity and time needed to cure the adhesive.

Adhesives, Coatings, Curing Equipment, Medical, Structural 150 mW/cm2, 50 mw/cm2, adhesive, adhesive between substrates, adhesive bond line, bond line, burst pressure, control process, cure adhesive, cure time, depth of cure, fixture time, flood lamp, high intensity, inteisity and time, intensity, Light Curable Adhesive, light source, loctite, lowest intensity, maximum intensity and time, minimum intensity and time, potting, proper cure time, radiometer, residue, residue transfer, smearing, squeeze out, surface exposed to air, tack free time, Tack-Free, tack-free surface cure, tensile strength

"I need a recommendation of a medical grade non-cytotoxic UV adhesive for bonding together clear polystyrene moldings. What adhesive would you recommend? What is a simple but effective method to monitor if the curing reaction has gone to completion? Is there any dosimeter available to accurately measure the UV exposure? Would a post bake after UV curing help? Does anything "outgas" from the UV medical-grade acrylates during curing?"

Two options come to mind when looking for a medical-grade light-curable adhesive for polystyrene – 1201-M-SC and 1120-M-UR from DYMAX Corporation. These materials exhibit excellent adhesion to polystyrene, and are both ISO10993/USP Class VI tested. Product data sheets are available at www.dymax.com. One simple but effective method to monitor if the curing has gone to completion is incorporated into the 1201-M-SC product. This material uses a technology called "See-Cure", where the material starts off with a brilliant blue color, and as it cures changes to clear. This is an excellent visual indicator that complete cure has been achieved in all parts of the bond line. Other methods to determine state of cure include destructive testing of the components to measure tensile force, or a drop of adhesive at the bond-line surface and using this droplet to measure for tack/semi-cure (a go/no-go measurement observed by the presence or absence of adhesive transfer onto a gloved finger). More complex methods include microscope FTIR analysis of the adhesive to identify the presence of the double-bonds peak (on the spectrum) before cure, and the removal of the double-bond peak after cure.

Dosimeters are necessary to accurately measure light exposure, and there are different versions, with different sensors, that measure different parts of the UV and visible light spectrum. While most light-curable adhesives cure with a combination of UV-A, UV-B, UV-C, and visible light, it is often convenient to reference the UV-A light spectrum coming from the light source. UV-A is commonly referred to as 365 nm, but actually covers a range of approximately 320-395 nm. This can be measured with an ACCU-CAL™ 50. If the polystyrene is UV blocking, then you would have to rely on the visible light spectrum of the lamp. The ACCU-CAL™ 50V measures 395-465 nm. Both units can give you average intensity (mW/cm²), peak intensity, and total energy (Joules/cm²). Other options are available like the ACCU-CAL™ 50 LED, which was developed for special lamps (such as LED lights which only emit a single wavelength at either 385 nm or 405 nm) to integrate around the center of the lamp spectrum.

A post bake is not necessary on most adhesives, but there are a few adhesives with a peroxide thermal initiator, which can use heat to cure areas not able to see light.

In regard to the question on outgassing of UV light-curable adhesives during cure, it is sometimes observed that a small amount of smoke comes up from the adhesive surface during the cure step. This is typical, as the adhesive may emit trace amounts of some of the ingredients (or fractions of the ingredients) contained in the formulation while light is shining on the adhesive and cure is taking place. Sometimes this can be overcome by varying the intensity and duration of cure, as well as adhesive choice and light source. This does not happen when the adhesive is used between two surfaces. Proper ventilation can help remove this smoke. If the smoke deposits onto a spot or flood lamp, then periodic cleaning of the end of the lightguide or lamp housing should be done to remove the film that may form there, as this thin film can reduce the intensity at the bond line.

Adhesives, Medical 320-395 nm, 365 nm, 395-465 nm, ACCU-CAL 50, ACCU-CAL 50 LED, ACCU-CAL 50V, adhesion to polystyrene, Adhesives, average intensity mW/cm2, bond line, bonding polystyrene, complete cure achieved, cure lamp, dosimeter, double bond peak, duration of cure, effective method to monitor curing reaction completion, film reduce intensity at bond line, heat cure, intensity, ISO 10993, lamp housing, lamp spectrum, LED cure lamps, light source, light-curable adhesives, lightguide, measure light exposure, measure semi-cure, measure tack, measure uv exposure, medical grade non-cytotoxic uv adhesive, medical-grade light-curable adhesive polystyrene, microscope FTIR analysis, outgas, outgassing during cure, outgassing of uv light-curable adhesives during cure, peak intensity, peroxide thermal initiator, post bake, see-cure adhesive technology, single wavelength 385 nm, single wavelength 405 nm, state of cure, tensile force, total energy Joules/cm2, USP Class VI, uv blocking, uv curing, uv lamp, uv light spectrum, uv medical grade acrylates, uv medical grade adhesive, UV-A, UV-B, UV-C, visible lamp, Visible Light, visible light spectrum, visual indicator

"Are methanol, ethanol, acetone, or acetonitrile FDA approved?"

These solvents are generally not FDA approved. These particular solvents bond plastic together by melting the plastic, and then allowing the plastics to intermingle. As the solvent evaporates, the plastics harden to form a strong plastic weld between the plastics. The choice of which grade of solvent you buy is up to the medical device manufacturer (higher purity equals higher price). Since solvents evaporate and do not remain in the bond line, they are not normally tested for biocompatibility.

Adhesives, Medical acetone, acetonitrile, biocompatibility, bond line, bond plastics, ethanol, evaporates, FDA approved, methanol, plastic weld, solvent, solvents evaporate