Adhesives offer rapid cure for glass bonding

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 2, 2006

Lincos, a supplier of glass and mirror fittings to furniture manufacturers, is using RiteLok UV curing adhesives for high strength glass-to-glass and glass-to-metal bonding.

Lincos, a supplier of glass and mirror fittings to furniture manufacturers, is using RiteLok UV curing adhesives for high strength glass-to-glass and glass-to-metal bonding.

As well as invisible bond lines, the adhesives also offer improved product quality and rapid curing times.

Used for coating, bonding, encapsulating, laminating and potting, UV curing adhesives are high performance, single component products that polymerise when exposed to ultraviolet light.

They are invisible, instant and high strength, giving a rapid but controlled cure at room temperature.

The RiteLok range of UV curing adhesives from Chemence includes products for: general bonding; electronic and electrical components; cut glass and lead crystal; automotive industry; glass furniture and display cases; and adhesives for medical device applications.

The RiteLok UV adhesives bond most glass, metal and plastic combinations, where at least one of the surfaces enables penetration of ultraviolet light.

Most RiteLok UV adhesives cure under light at 365nm wavelength, although some are optimised for higher wavelengths.

Clear bond lines make RiteLok UV adhesives ideal for use on aesthetically-sensitive applications such as glass and mirror products, and fast curing times make them ideal for automated production.

Glass and mirror products, jewellery, watches, glass display cases, instrumentation devices, meters and decorative crystal pieces can all be bonded using RiteLok UV adhesives.

Lincos is a leading manufacturer of glass and mirror fittings and tubular constructions, which it supplies to a wide range of glass furniture manufacturers.

Established in 1990, Lincos produces metal fittings and then sells these on as assembly kits or sets to glass and mirror furniture manufacturers, who then have everything they require to assemble the final product.

Aesthetics is critical to glass and mirror products and so all bonding lines must be invisible, giving the finished product the appropriate look and feel.

Last year, Lincos switched to using RiteLok UV60 (glass-to-metal) and RiteLok UV51 (glass-to-glass) ultraviolet curing adhesives from Chemence and as a result has seen improved quality and reduced costs.

UV60 is a single component, medium viscosity adhesive that cures when exposed to ultraviolet light.

The adhesive is suitable for high strength bonding of metal fittings to glass and operating temperature is from -40 to +110C.

UV51 is a low viscosity, single component UV adhesive that Lincos uses to bond glass to glass.

It also cures when exposed to ultraviolet light and is suitable for the high strength bonding of glass to glass.

Operating temperature is from -40 to +110C.

Aside from glass, the RiteLok range of UVs can be used to bond other materials.

In plastic bonding for example, applications include toys, meters, medical devices, signs and cases.

As a coating, RiteLok UVs can be used for the scratch-protection of lenses and glasses or as protection against general abrasion.

Other applications include photographs, PCBs, cosmetics, decorative effects, badges and emblems.

In the medical device industry, customers are using RiteLok UVs for bonding a range of disposable devices, including: needles and syringes; IV placements; anaesthesia and face masks; drug and blood delivery devices; filters; catheters; suction tubes; and for procedural aids.

In nondisposables, applications include lasers and optics; imaging systems; and laboratory medical equipment.