[Image courtesy of Dymax]
The patent-pending adhesive platform combines anionic and free radical chemistries into one formulation. HLC adhesives exhibit the physical and performance properties of Dymax light-curable adhesives and the rapid moisture/contact cure of anionics. Contact curing enables instant bonding in dark areas and to a broad range of substrates. That includes opaque and light-blocking materials.
According to the Torrington, Connecticut-based company, primary advantages of HLC materials include fast cure under very low intensity. The materials also offer limited-to-no blooming with proper light cure, better aesthetics, humidity resistance and more flexible bond joints. Substrates don’t need to be translucent, while exposure to light curing increases bond integrity while reducing blooming in exposed areas.
Dymax HLC products offer an alternative to existing chemistry types on the market. That includes one- and two-part epoxies, cyanocrylates, hotmelts, mechanical fasteners, RTV silicones, PSAs and UV acrylics. The materials require no primers, too. Dymax said potential advantages include less heat generation during cure, high gap-filling properties and reduced stress cracking. Materials also exhibit low-to-no surface tack and prove safe for use.
The company designed HLC-M-1000 for medical device assembly. It meets various biocompatibility standards and is well-suited for bonding applications on catheters, tube sets, diagnostic and therapeutic devices, autoinjectors and endoscopes.
Dymax said it also developed dispensing systems specifically for its HLC products to follow best dispensation practices. Users can choose from various controllers, valves, material reservoirs, and pressure tanks to create configurations that meet their manufacturing needs. The company plans to release additional HLC materials for medical devices and industrial applications later this year.
