The engineers at optical instrument makers Gooch & Housego use a high specification UV cure adhesive in a military application. It is premixed with microspheres to ensure bondline thickness. However, there were problems in getting a homogenous dispersion of microspheres in the mix - which could lead to poor fitment of the optical element and subsequent removal, cleaning and re-working.

In a world where miniaturisation is a trend; speed, accuracy and repeatability in the application of adhesives, protective coatings and other liquids can present problems to technology manufacturers. Some insights will be given at the seminar: Adhesive & coating dispensing. Meeting the challenges of technology manufacturing at the FAST Exhibition on 22nd April.

Intertronics has released Polytec PU 1000, a single part adhesive which cures quickly at room temperature to a flexible, electrically conductive polymer. It can replace traditional epoxies which are rigid and require thermal processing, offering production efficiencies and enabling applications where pliability and conductivity is important.

The adhere IRS 2129 rubber modified adhesive from Intertronics is a high performance black rubber modified resin system, designed for the bonding of dissimilar materials with differing rates of thermal expansion to provide a tough and resilient joint. This includes many substrates, including rubber, found in applications such as electronics, electrical and other specialist component assemblies, e.g. automotive and specialist vehicles.

A two part water, clear liquid silicone elastomer, offering outstanding moisture and temperature resistance, has been released by Intertronics. Alongside a non-yellowing catalyst system, the Opti-tec 7020 features a low viscosity which allows ease of flow around complex parts, enabling electrical insulation and shock protection. 

Suitable for use with the IJF ATD Autotube Dispensing System, to enable accurate and efficient dispensing, the ADH 9454 adhesive has been introduced by Intertronics. A gap filling cyanoacrylate (instant) gel suitable for use on vertical and porous surfaces in industrial assembly applications, the surface insensitive ADH 9454 cyanoacrylate gel has high viscosity so preventing runs on inclined or vertical surfaces during the 3 to 60 seconds fixture...

Designed for rapid bonding of a wide variety of plastic and metal substrates, including PC and ABS applications, the Dymax 3401 dual cure (UV and moisture) adhesive has been released by Intertronics. The adhesive works fast, with under 1 second UV/visible light cure using broad spectrum UV or narrow spectrum 385nm LED light.

Addressing the concepts around light curing adhesives, Intertronics has introduced a whitepaper: 'Designing-in Light Curing Adhesives' by Peter Swanson, Managing Director, Intertronics. The paper starts with the design function; design engineers will earn the gratitude of their production engineering colleagues if they can specify or allow for a light curing adhesive.

Intertronics has introduced BlueWave LED Flood System, a large format lamp for UV/visible light curing, enabling larger production components to be cured with LED technology. It offers great intensity and uniformity, contributing to faster and more repeatable cure times, and with LED’s instant on/off capability there are no mechanical shutter components and no warm-up time requirements.

The benefits of colour change once cured with red fluorescence creates a combination expected to offer significant improvements in production efficiencies gained from rapid on-demand curing while ensuring greatly improved quality outcomes. This makes it possible to quickly inspect full adhesive joint coverage and cure, as well as post cure assurance of bond line integrity coupled with material validation post production.

A UV and visible light curing adhesive, particularly suited to rapid bonding of COP/COC, has been introduced by Intertronics. The DYMAX 1072-M MD adhesive bonds COC/COP (cyclic olefin polymers/copolymers) film laminates and other difficult-to-bond-to polymers, as well as a variety of other plastics widely used in the manufacture of medical devices.

Featuring updated dummy components, test boards and solder training kits, the Practical Components Catalogue is now available from Intertronics. The catalogue contains a selection of solder training kits in both Lead-Free and Tin Lead for certification and recertification to IPC standards. Both IPC training centres and companies conducting in-house soldering courses or recertification courses use Practical Certification PCB training kits.

A brochure detailing adhesives and protective materials for medical device assembly has been issued by Intertronics. The brochure focuses on Intertronic's ISO 10993 and USP Class VI adhesives and protective materials, with products including DYMAX medical grade adhesives, coatings and masking materials, Opti-tec epoxy adhesives, medical grade cyanoacrylates and the Polytec PT range of two-part adhesives.

Designed from concept to exactly fit medical device criteria, the flowplus16 high precision fluid pressure monitor device (up to 16bar) has been announced by Intertronics. This pressure monitor also features an internal void free flow channel coated with a virtually inert FDA compliant elastomer.

The CircuitWorks range of conductive ink pens, launched by Intertronics, benefits engineers and technicians in electronic manufacturing and repair industries. They instantly create silver or nickel conductive tracks on rigid or flexible circuit boards in the prototyping, rework and repair of boards (or flex circuits) where they enable linking of components, repair of defective tracks and production of smooth jumpers.

Offering accurate and repeatable measurement of UV light, the ACCU-CAL 150 is a simple to use radiometer from Intertronics. This radiometer can measure UV light up to 10W/cm2 emitted from stationary light-curing flood lamps or lamps used in conveyor based processes and can also be used to determine intensity (mW/cm2) or total energy as derived from intensity and exposure time (mJ/cm2).

Intertronics announce the Dymax light-curable optical display bonding adhesives. These one-part LCD adhesives are designed for touch panel assembly including bonding flat panel displays, LCD screens, tablets, outdoor kiosks, navigation systems, liquid crystal displays, kiosk panels, mobile phones, and smart connected devices.

Designed to enable small area electronics repair, CircuitWorks range of PCB rework, repair and prototyping materials hae been recently launched by Intertronics. The easy-to-use valved pen and syringe delivery systems enable developers, technicians, installers and servicing engineers to carry out cleaning, protection, bonding and replacement of conductive tracks to circuit boards and components.

Intertronics has today introduced a new pressure sensor which offers high accuracy monitoring in an innovative design suited to critical dosing and dispensing applications. Compact and easily installed into the fluid path by means of standard luer lock fittings, the flowplus16 pressure sensor measures the pressure of the liquid being dispensed or dosed, and provides precise monitoring of material flow.

The new DYMAX ECE 2000 and ECE 5000 UV light curing modular flood lamp systems from Intertronics offer moderate to high-intensity curing over a 13cm x 13cm or 20cm x 20cm area for the fast curing of UV curable adhesives, coatings, and inks - also for curing parts with large bond lines or for simultaneously curing multiple parts in trays.  They offer a great solution for prototype or bench-top production in a wide variety of industrial applic...