“I am interested in a low-viscosity epoxy (<100 cp) with good adhesion to ceramics and stainless steel. The objective is to seal a small metal sensor inside a ceramic casing at room temperature. There is no contact with the patient. What type of epoxy do you recommend?"

Based on the substrates, ceramic and stainless steel, and the room-temperature requirements, I would recommend looking at a cyanoacrylate (instant adhesive) or a two-part epoxy.

Cyanoacrylates are available in very low viscosities. You may want to evaluate the DYMAX 222 Series which offers cyanoacrylates in a variety of viscosities. Low-viscosity epoxies are rare. One option could be two-part epoxy 301 from EPO-TEK, which is 100-200 cP.

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“I am trying to bond 304 stainless steel to 304 stainless steel without welding. A strip of stainless steel is put into place once the device is completely assembled and welding would damage sensitive electronic components. The strip of stainless steel is currently held in place with high bond-strength double-sided tape with foam between the adhesive layers. The foam helps the strip to take its shape over slight surface variations in the welded cabinet it is being affixed to. The problem is that the foam can be shifted over allowing access to what is behind the strip. Pry bars have then been used to gain access into the device. It has been difficult to find an adhesive that can allow for surface irregularities. The adhesive must be able to withstand outdoor temperature extremes, moisture, and UV since this device can be permanently installed anywhere. The adhesive must also have other special properties because the strip is installed vertically to the cabinet and it is done on a shop floor where there are a lot of people around. Any ideas?”

For such extreme environment requirements and gap configuration, a 2-part epoxy could possibly be the best solutions for this application.

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“I have an application where I insert a 6 mm square shaft into a 6 mm + square hole to a depth of 6 mm. I need a product to bond these so the shaft does not pull out axially. There is very little force axially. Torque will be taken care of by the square. This is a veterinary medical instrument that does not stay in the body. Adhesive should be able to withstand 500-600 autoclavings and also be usable in ethylene oxide sterilization. “

To achieve a strong bond between two pieces of stainless steel and withstand 500-600 cycles of autoclaving, the best option would be a two-part or heat-curable epoxy. I would suggest trying Master Bond EP42HTMED, which is a two-component epoxy that cures at room temperature or via heat. Another supplier to contact is Epotec, who also offers medical-grade epoxies that will resist autoclaving and ETO sterilization.

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"Hello, currently I am working with 2 Cal Poly professors to make monitoring operating room packs easier. Our goal is to be able to attach micro RFID tags to surgical tools so that they can be scanned and bookmarked. What type of adhesive would work best to attach these tags to surgical tools? The adhesive needs to be biocompatible and be able to undergo sterilization."

Assuming most surgical tools are stainless steel, and need to survive repeated autoclave, I would recommend looking at 2-part epoxies as your base chemistry. Options are available from Loctite, 3M, and Epoxy Technology, to name a few, and some have biocompatibility certificates on file. If the surgical tools are disposable or plastic, and only need to withstand a single autoclave cycle, EtO, or Gamma sterilization, then a light-curable acrylated urethane like the DYMAX 1120-M-UR light-curable medical device adhesive would be my first choice. Acrylated urethane light-curable adhesives have excellent adhesion, are simple to apply as a 1-part material, and cure in less than a second.

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“I need a medical-grade adhesive to bond Ultem material to stainless steel (SS). This product will be a reusable medical product that will be autoclaved for 30 minutes @ 250° F”

To bond materials like Ultem and stainless steel, for a reusable device that will see autoclave conditions, the right choice in adhesives is important. As a general category, acrylates, urethanes, and cyanoacrylates will survive only limited autoclaving. Epoxies and silicones will have better success. Ultem is a difficult material, but with proper evaluation you might find a successful candidate. Silicone materials are available from companies like Dow Corning, Momentive, NuSil, and Wacker. Epoxy materials can be obtained from Epoxy Technology, Henkel/Loctite, and numerous others. Silicones will be softer and flex with the thermal stresses, while epoxies will be more rigid. It will ultimately depend on the part design and the number of autoclaving cycles the part will see.

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