FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• 20 years experience
• Applications in the automotive, industrial, medical and photonics industries
• More than 2,000 product variations available
• System solutions, resin and curing equipment
• We are ready to work with you to solve your problems
• Instant cures, high strength, low stress bonds with excellent durability
• Call our technical staff for answers to your questions and solutions to your problems
  

How do I know DYMAX products are reliable?
Our customers have included Fortune 500 manufacturers of medical disposable devices, electronic assemblies, military and automotive systems and optical components for over 20 years. These industries demand reliability and long life in harsh environments. Call us for details on proven applications of our products.

Are these materials safe?
Yes. DYMAX adhesives are recommended as a replacement for solvent bonding because they are 100% solid resins, with low V.O.C.'s. Many of our adhesives must pass ISO 10993 biomedical certification testing. All DYMAX raw material ingredients are on the TOCSA list. DYMAX products do not contain hazardous amine hardening agents found in some epoxies or isocyanates found in many urethanes. There is no hazardous styrene or flammable monomers, common in some other UV adhesives. Good manufacturing practices recommend the use of impervious gloves. Safety agencies such as OSHA do not recommend skin contact for any adhesives, regardless of the source and regardless of the manufacturer's claims.

What are your cure times?
Typically less than 30 seconds! Cure speeds for most applications range from 1 to 30 seconds upon exposure to UV light intensities of 20 to 2,000 mW/cm².

How can I find the right material for me?
DYMAX offers a standard line of products for many applications. Our staff will work with you to find which material and curing equipment solution is best for you.

Why should I use a UV curing adhesive or material?
The instant cure-on-demand saves time and money in production. It also allows precise alignment of parts, followed by immediate cure, as a solution to many problems in manufacturing processes. Automation is greatly simplified compared to two-part or other types of systems.

When is a light curing adhesive not a good choice?
UV adhesives will only cure when exposed to UV or visible light. So, if your parts cannot be cured with UV or visible light, then another assembly method is required. However, many DYMAX customers tack-bond or set their parts with light exposure and follow-up with heat for full cure.

Are DYMAX UV curing lamps safe to use?
DYMAX UV lamps are supplied with shielding and/or goggles to prevent exposure to the skin or eyes from UV and visible light. DYMAX lamps emit primarily UVA and visible light, similar to bright sunlight. DYMAX lamps do not emit ionizing radiation that can penetrate skin. Properly maintained DYMAX lamps do not produce hazardous ozone gas.

Can I use a "black light" style UV light?
Yes, but you will miss out on the advantages of very fast, complete cure using DYMAX technology. "Black lights" will cure DYMAX adhesives but at a slower rate than DYMAX lamps. Typical cure times may extend from 5 to 60 seconds. "Black lights" are not suitable for applications where the resin being cured is exposed to air. Call for specific applications.

Do I still need to wait 2 weeks for full strength to develop?
No. DYMAX adhesives cure completely in 1-30 seconds upon exposure to a DYMAX curing lamp. "Black light" style lamps may require exposures of 60 seconds or more. An additional 10-30% of tensile strength develops on glass or metal within 10-60 minutes following exposure at room temperature, depending on the nature of the substrate being bonded.

I want to replace an epoxy (with its long-high temperature cure). Can you help?
Many of our UV adhesives exhibit tensile shear strengths exceeding epoxies. They are safe, cure in seconds and have the reliability of the best epoxies.

How does your adhesion compare to other products?
DYMAX adhesives show extremely high adhesion to plastics, metals, glass and ceramic materials. We have created adhesives for many difficult-to-bond to materials. Call us with your application problem.

Do you have flexible materials?
Yes. Many DYMAX adhesives, coatings, sealants and gaskets are flexible. Durometers typically fall in the range of A75 to D55. Elongation over 100% is common.

Do you have rigid materials?
Yes. Though not as common, several grades of DYMAX products are hard and rigid with a shore hardness of D80 or higher.

What about shrinkage?
All adhesives shrink during cure. Low shrinkage is important to assure that critical parts do not shift position when the adhesive cures. DYMAX has a complete line of products with linear shrinkage between 2 to 3%. Special low shrink, filled grades have values of 0.2% to 0.5%.

What is the operating temperature range of these materials?
Typically from -55°F to 300°F. This range is much wider than most adhesive options. Special grades that will endure cryogenic conditions and temperatures above 300°F are also available. Usage ranges can be influenced by other factors besides temperature. Your DYMAX Technical Service Engineer can explain these factors further.

What is the Shelf life of DYMAX adhesives?
Usually 1 year.  DYMAX products are warranted for their intended use for 1 year from the date of shipment from the factory.  (6 months for a few products)