Aerobic Adhesives VII – A New High Performance Bonding Option ...

Aerobic Adhesives VII – A New High Performance Bonding Option
for Optical Assembly
By:
K. Rhodes, Program Manager
Dymax Corporation
51 Greenwoods Road
Torrington, CT 06790
Abstract
A new family of UV curing Aerobic Acrylic adhesives has been developed and positioned
specifically for optical assembly applications. The development of this new optical adhesives
line is the result of a strong response to and use of industrial grades of Aerobic Acrylic adhesives
by various companies in the optical industry. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the new
product line to the optical assembly industry and describe the features and benefits it has to
offer. The paper will discuss significant benefits of the new optical adhesives including: Higher
strength bonds – comparable to epoxies; Faster cures than typical optical grade UV curing
mercaptoesters; Low stress, high strength bonds lead to superior durability; Where they may be
used to replace slower curing adhesives; and How Aerobic Acrylic formulations achieve these
benefits.
Keyword List
Optical Adhesive
Adhesive
UV Cure
Light Cure
Acrylate
Bond
Cure
Assembly
Dymax
Cementing
I Introduction
A new family of UV curing Aerobic Acrylic adhesives has been developed and positioned specifically for optical
assembly applications. The development of this new optomechanical line is the result of a strong response to,
and use of industrial grades of Aerobic Acrylic adhesives by various companies in the optical industry. The
purpose of this paper is to introduce the new product line to the optical assembly industry and describe the
features and benefits it has to offer.
II History
UV curing is almost as old as civilization itself. Certain dyes used to preserve Egyptian mummies had to be
dried (cured) in sunlight. UV curing resins found their first commercial use during World War II to protect acrylic
windows, nose cones and firing “bubbles” for military aircraft. The late 1970’s saw large scale acceptance and
use of UV curing acrylic resins by the ink industry as an alternative to solvent based inks. In the early 1980’s UV
curing Aerobic Acrylic Adhesives (AAA’s) were introduced to the assembly industry. Aerobic Acrylic Adhesives
have the ability to cure between two surfaces regardless of the presence or absence of air. The absence of
hydrocarbon-based solvents makes the choice of AAA’s much more environmental safe than conventional
adhesives. Recent improvements in AAA’s have yielded performance properties that equal or exceed epoxies.

Table 1. Adhesion of Various UV Resins
UV Aerobic Acrylics UV Aerobic
Epoxies
Tensile Strength Steel >3000 psi >500 psi
per ASTM D1002, Glass >2000 psi >1500 psi
DSTM 250, DSTM Plastic Generally exceeds >100 psi
251
material strength
Speed Of Cure: 1 mil ~ 2 sec ~ 2 sec
20 mil < 5 sec < 5 sec
Surface Finish:
Some may have
oxygen inhibition
Dry
The principal advantage of AAA’s include:
• Lower costs • Faster cure times • Simpler application • Environmentally safe
• Long shelf life • Room temperature cures • Less material waste • Higher production yields
• Elimination of complex jigs and fixtures • Overall reduction in production times
Table 2. Typical Applications
Typical Applications for Aerobic Acrylics
Glass and plastic headlamp assembly
Electrical sealing and tacking
Optical component assembly
Microelectronic assembly
Dome coatings
Conformal coatings
Medical Disposable Device assembly
Coil terminating
Tamper proofing
Fingernail coating
Formed-In-place gaskets
Figure 1. Headlamp Lens
For all of these reasons and the strength and durability of the bonds formed, AAA’s began replacing heat curing
and two part epoxies, urethanes and silicones in most applications where light could reach them to effect cure .
Since the early 1980’s, use and acceptance of these products has cut across the industrial spectrum to include
uses in automotive motor and lighting assembly, aerospace, optical, military and industrial electronic assembly,
appliance, medical disposable device assembly and electrical and architectural applications, to name a few. In
addition, AAA’s are able to operate over a wide temperature range, from –60 o C to 200 o C, depending on the
adhesive. Table 2 lists some typical applications for which AAA’s have been used.
III Adhesives Available to the Optical Engineer
Optical Engineers have relied on adhesives for many applications. In most situations it is the only reasonable
method of mounting. Adhesive use is a reliable approach which is cost effective and process-controlled. Often
specifications of adhesives in a design leads to production problems. These problems include but are not limited
to: material handling (shelf life / proper mix ratio / pot life); long cure times often at high temperature; application
(tooling / training); and environmental concerns. UV and UV/visible light curing adhesives are more conducive to
production applications. With improved performance these newer AAA’s are replacing many traditional
adhesives. Table 3 provides a quick comparison of typical adhesives used in the Optics Industry.

Adhesive
Cure
Mechanism
Typical
Properties
Time To Full
Cure
UV/Visible
Urethane
Acrylate
UV Or Visible
Light
Resilient - Hard
To Very Flexible
Tack In
Seconds
Full Cure In
Minutes
Table 3. Adhesives for Optical Applications
UV Mercaptoester Epoxy RTV Silicone Cyanoacrylate
UV Light
Resilient – Hard To
Very Flexible
Pre-Cure In Seconds
Post Cure For
Minutes
Post Bake
2 Part Mix
Or Frozen
Very Hard
And Brittle
Minutes To
Hours
Moisture
Very Flexible
And Soft
Hours
Moisture
Hard And Brittle
Seconds
Odor Low Pungent Low Low Pungent
Storage
1 Year, Room
Temperature
4-6 Months
Refrigerated
Various 1 Year 4-6 Months
Refrigerated
UV Curing Aerobics - Offering A Wide Range Of Options
A tough, resilient urethane polymer backbone gives Aerobic Acrylics high strength, toughness, and resiliency as
well as a range of properties from rigid to flexible; from very hard to very soft, depending on the formulation.
Formulations can come in a range of viscosities, from thin wicking grades to thixotropic gels. These adhesives
cure “on demand”, allowing the operator to position the lens before affecting cure. UV curable resins can be
cured with UV light only. Special grades of UV/visible light curable Aerobic Acrylics (called “Ultra Fast ) offer
the benefit of being able to cure through even UV blocked plastic, such as of polycarbonate, polystyrene, and
polymethylmethacrylate (acrylic). Multi-Cure ® formulations 3 offer the ability to cure with heat as a secondary
cure method, allowing for cure in a shadowed area.
UV/visible acrylates cure by a free radical polymerization. Cure is generally complete within a few seconds
though optimum glass adhesion may take longer due to the slower reaction rate of adhesion promoting additives.
Figure 2. Free Radical Polymerization
>C=C< + R• à R-C-C• Free Radical Initiation
R-C-C• + >C=C< à R-C-C-C-C• Chain Extension
R-(-C-C-) n -C=C< or R-(-C-C-) n -C-C-R
Termination
UV Curing Mercaptoester
Long a “standard” in Optomechanical assembly, thiol-ene polymer (aka mercaptoesters) systems can yield
sealants or adhesives that range from hard to soft. Some formulations contain solvents and may be flammable.
Initiated by UV light thiol-enes cure by an addition mechanism. Most commercial literature indicates that a
significant amount of time is required for cured properties to fully develop. Post cures of at least 1 week or 50ºC
(122ºF) are frequently required according to conventional literature.

Figure 3. Mercaptoester Polymerization
>C=S< + R+ à R-C-S+ Addition Reaction Initiation
R-C-S+ + >C=S< à R-C-S-C-S+ Chain Extension
R-(-C-S-) n -C=S< or R-(-C-S-) n -C-S-R
Termination
Both the AAA’s and the Mercaptoesters cure upon exposure to UV light though the cure chemistries are different.
Does this difference in composition then, result in a difference in performance? Laboratory testing of these two
types of UV curing products in conjunction with a review of published literature has shown some significant
distinguishing features. Figure 4 below shows a significant increase in both the speed of cure and strength of the
AAA’s compared with the Mercaptoester based adhesives.
Figure 4. Compression Strength Versus Time Following UV Cure
Dymax OP-29*
1000 psi
No Post Bake Needed
Post Bake
Competitive Adhesives
Sample “C”
Tensile Strength
Sample “B”
Sample “A”
20-30 sec
UV Light Curing (RT)
1 Hour
25 o C (77 o F)
24 Hour
50 o C (120 o C)
48 Hour
50 o C (120 o C)
*Though full cure occurs in seconds, adhesion to glass optimizes in about an hour

During UV Cure, adhesion promoters become part of the polymer matrix, which after cure, can react with the
glass surface to show a 10-200% increase in compressive strength. This increase is due to a secondary cure
mechanism which forms strong covalent bonds directly to the silicone atoms in the glass. See figure 7 for more
information.
Epoxies
Typically used when induced stress or speed of cure are not important, epoxies can provide durable, rigid
structures for high temperature applications. There are a wide variety of systems. Typically, epoxies fall into one
of three categories; two-component systems, one-component heat cure systems, and one-component frozen
systems. However, all present processing problems, ranging from limited pot life and slow cure to special
storage. Two-part epoxies typically require 24 hours for full cure. Heat curing types, whether premixed, frozen
or a true single component grade, usually requires exposure to 120º - 150ºC heat.
UV Curing Epoxies
While similar in properties to heat curing epoxies, UV curing epoxies are typically lower in adhesive strength,
especially to glass and metal. Older types of UV epoxies bond parts together by efficiently forming a vacuum
between closely matched surfaces. Their greatest advantage is low shrinkage and good thermal stability. UV
curing epoxies cure as fast or faster than other UV curing adhesives in very thin layers. However, their depth of
cure is very limited and that coupled with lower adhesion has tended to limit their use in many assembly
applications. Lower durability is frequently observed.
Figure 5. Epoxy and UV Epoxy Polymerization
O
H
O+X-
O
R
R
R
H
R
O
Table 4. Cure Time Comparisons Between AAA and Epoxy Systems
UV Aerobic
Acrylic
adhesives
Conventional
UV Epoxy
2 part
Epoxy
1 Part Thermal
Cure Epoxy
Frozen 1 part Epoxy
Speed of Cure
to 0.125”
15-30 seconds 120 minutes
or longer
10-50
minutes
15 min - 2 hours @
100 -150 o C.
3 hour thaw;
10-50 minutes
Time to reach 20 minutes 24 hours 24 hours 24 hours 24 hours
full strength
Pot Life Unlimited Unlimited 5-60
minutes
Days @ Room
Temperature
10-50 minutes @ RT
Silicones
Silicones have a highly flexible polymer backbone and are usually used in gasketing, and sealing applications.
Two part mix silicones cure in a few minutes while one part “RTV” types need controlled humidity and many
hours to many days to cure fully. There are a few types of UV curing silicones. Most are used as release
agents. Other types on the market are simply mixtures of UV curing acrylics and RTV silicones. As with other
RTV types, full cures require long exposures to humidity. Most RTV silicones give off other chemicals on cure
(outgassing) which may fog or even damage precision optical components.

Cyanoacrylates (CA’s)
Rigid and brittle CA’s (superglues) cure in seconds upon contact with the moisture that is naturally absorbed on
almost all surfaces. Some plastics require priming. Many CA’s effloresce on cure, resulting in a “frosting” effect
that can effect both appearance and the clarity of optical components. Though depending on it for cure, CA
bond lines are quite sensitive to and degrade with exposure to too much moisture. Most CA bonds are not shock
resistant.
IV UV/Visible Aerobic Acrylic Adhesive’s - Composition and Curing
UV curable acrylates are comprised of oligomers, monomers, additives, and photoinitiators. These formulations
can be tailored to provide optically clear resins with specific refractive indexes, adhesion, weatherability,
resistance to UV light, etc. Oligomers are medium length polymer chains that contribute to tensile strength,
modulus, and elongation. Monomers provide adhesion to different substrates. Additives can provide a wide
range of viscosities to allow for easier dispensing, or can be incorporated as fillers for extremely low shrinkage.
Figure 6. Typical UV-Curing Urethane Acrylate Adhesive
TYPICAL UV-CURING
URETHANE ACRYLATE ADHESIVE
UV/VIS
Light
P.I.
ADDITIVE
for fine tuning
MONOMER
for specific properties
OLIGOMER
for basic properties
Photoinitiator
The UV adhesives cure upon exposure to UV light in the 300-400 nm range of the electromagnetic spectrum as
shown below in Figure 8. UV/visible light curing adhesives cure in the 300-500 nm range, which allows for curing
to deep sections, faster cures, or cure through UV blocked substrates. Using a visible light curing adhesive also
allows for faster cures using a lower intensity, low power light source, an advantage when considering the cost of
light sources.
All light curing formulations include, in addition to the basic resin chemical constituents, oligomers, monomers,
thickeners, adhesion promoters, etc. Photoinitiators that react when exposed to light of the correct wavelengths
cause polymerization of the resins. These photoinitiators are organic molecules which can absorb light and
produce radical species upon splitting. It is these radicals that initiate the polymerization of the monomers and
meth(acrylate) oligomers. See figure 2 for reaction mechanism. Adhesion is developed by secondary reactions
with adhesion promoters directly to the Silicone atoms in the glass within 1-60 minutes to gain a 10-200%
increase in compression strength.
Figure 7 - Free Radical Initiation, Propagation, And Termination/Adhesion to Glass surface
Initiation UV Light
UV
M PI
PhotoInitiator
M M
M Molecule
M M
PI
Propogation
UV
M
PI
M
M
M
M
PI
PI
M
M
Termination - Full Cure
Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

AAA’s are designed to be sensitive to those areas of the electromagnetic spectrum which allow the optimum
combination of speed and depth of cure for assembly applications. Formulations that cure only with UV light are
primarily triggered by longwave UVA spectrum. Formulations for bonding through UV inhibited surfaces,
combine catalysts from both the UV and visible regions and generally product faster and deeper cures. Shown
below in Figure 6 is lamps spectral output matched to an adhesive’s spectral absorbance, indicating a synergy
between the curing lamps and the intensity and wavelength that the adhesive needs to cure.
Figure 8. Matching the Lamp’s Spectral Output with the Absorption
Spectrum of the Adhesive
25
UV-C Region UV-B UV-A Visible
Relative Intensity
20
15
10
5
0
Lamp
Emission
Spectrum
Adh.
Absorption
Spectrum
200 225 250 275 300 325 350 375 400 425 450
Wavelength, nm
V New Aerobic Acrylic Adhesives for Optomechanical Applications
As has been shown, AAA’s come from a technology of acrylated urethanes that have a long history of use in high
performance applications and some demonstrated advantages of strength and cure speed over UV curing
mercaptoesters as shown in Graph 1. Table 5 below is a summary chart of the property ranges of the New
Aerobic Acrylic Adhesives for Optical Assembly.
Table 5 Typical Properties for Dymax OptoMechanical Resins
Property of the cured resin
Normal cure depth
Cure speed
Viscosity
Adhesion to metals, plastic & glass
Clarity
Shrinkage
Surface dryness/slickness
Moisture resistance
Property Ranges
1-500 mils
1 to several seconds cures “typical”
10 - 200,000 cP – non flowing paste
To 4,000 psi or substrate destruction
Water white to transparent light, straw
Low
Dry surface cures
Good to excellent
Hardness (Shore A&D) A 30 to D 80
Resistance to thermal shock under load
Solvent resistance
Good to excellent
Good to excellent

These new adhesives have been designed with the applications and concerns of the optical designer in mind.
We will now turn our discussion to these design considerations and associated concerns and how the new
adhesives respond to these challenges.
VI Design Considerations
It is frequently critical to design the optical component with the adhesive in mind. The properties of these
adhesives cover a wide range for uses in differing applications. Two common areas for use are glass to glass
and glass or plastic to metal. In glass to glass bonding such as doublet, prism , or fiber optic assembly, the
adhesive transmission and index of refraction are critical. AAA’s can be developed with excellent lens bonding
properties and with a wide range of refractive indices. The UV instant curing is well suited to doublet assembly.
Glass to metal or plastic to metal bonding, in applications such as lens, prism, mirror mounting, ferrule bonding,
or fiber optic tacking, require other adhesive characteristics. Viscosity, shrinkage, speed of cure, flexibility, and
tensile strength can be critical to the success of an application. A wide range of products may be utilized to
match every application requirement. Adhesives such as the OP-24 may be utilized for mirror bonding as the
multiple cure methods offer many advantages over conventional epoxies. Multicure adhesives can cure with
UV/visible light, activator for room temperature cold curing between metal and metalized glass surfaces, or heat
for areas not able to receive UV light.
Low Shrinkage Applications - Pinning
Pinning applications require an extremely low shrinkage adhesive. As operators align optical components, the
adhesive can already be in place. Once the proper alignment has been obtained, a spot curing system can focus
a narrow beam of light to the adhesive with subsequent cure in seconds with very little movement upon cure. It
is important to cure multiple bond sites simultaneously to avoid uneven shrinkage, even with the low shrinkage
values. Adhesives like the Dymax OP-61 will maintain this position without moving over the life of the part, even
at most operating temperatures and through thermal cycling due to the low coefficient of thermal expansion
(CTE) value of 58x10 -6 in/in o C. While for most applications, the correct light source will play a significant role in
the shrinkage of the adhesive, these special resins maintain low shrinkage over a wide light intensity range.
Figure 9 shows an approximate value of 0.3% linear shrinkage irregardless of the energy of the light source.
Figure 10 depicts a typical prism mount.
Figure 9. % Shrinkage vs Energy for OP-61
Figure 10. Typical Prism Mount
1.00
% Shrinkage vs Energy
OP-61
0.90
0.80
0.70
Shrinkage, %
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
19.4 7.2 5.5 5.4 4.6 2.8 2.1
Energy (UV-A), J/cm2
Stress Protection Theory

In many applications, rigid epoxies often create stress relative to coefficient of thermal expansion differences.
Stress in optical components creates stress birefringence and optical distortion. Birefringence stress creates
polarization sensitive changes, which in many cases affects performance. High temperature curing of many
epoxies creates severe stress conditions at room (and lower) temperatures. Solutions to avoid stresses have
often led to flexible adhesive use with both lower strengths and higher outgassing problems. New AAA’s have
combined the higher strength with the ability to reduce stress due to the very low modulus inherent in these new
materials.
Low modulus adhesives produce less stress on substrates than do high modulus materials. AAA’s are
available with very low modulus. Equation (1) 5 describes the shear stress produced by thermal
excursions between the substrate and the adhesive bond as follows:
σ = (α adh - α sub ) * ∆T * E avg (1)
where,
σ = Shear stress due to adhesive bond
α adh = Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Adhesive
α sub = Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Substrate
∆T = Temperature Range
E avg = Average Modulus of the adhesive over the temperature range
When choosing a resin system based on the relative shear stress that might be introduced, it is important to
weigh the processing cost and cure speed with the shear stress.
Table 6. Relative Shear Stress Due To Thermal Expansion From -55/125 o C For Rigid
And Flexible Resins Bonding To Aluminum 6061-T6.
Liquid Adhesive Resins
Relative Shear Stress -
55/125 o Cure Speed Coefficient Thermal Modulus of
C, (psi)
Expansion, x 10 -6 in/in/ o C Elasticity (psi)
2 Part Silicone 14 8 hours 340 250
UV Aerobic Acrylic Urethane (OP-30) 95 10 sec 200 3,000
Frozen Filled Epoxy 810 3-4 hours 20 1,500,000
UV Mercaptoester 4300 10 sec 200 150,000
2 Part Epoxy Resin 6345 1-3 hours 70 750,000
Some resins contain high levels of mineral filler in an attempt to lower the measured CTE and increase the
Glass transition temperature (Tg), thereby increasing the temperature at which a dimensional change will take
place to above the operating temperature of the device. However, by choosing a low modulus material, the
overall stress imparted upon an object will be minimized irregardless of the CTE and Tg.
Figure 11 shows that high modulus resins such as epoxies characteristically develop high stress rapidly with
only small physical changes. Stress is much lower, and builds more slowly, with dimensional changes in flexible
resins. Figure 12 typifies doublet assembly.

Figure 11. Stress/Strain Relationships
Figure 12. Doublet Assembly
3000
Rigid Epoxies
Stress (psi)
2000
1000
UV Aerobic
Acrylic Urethanes
Silicone
0 10 20 30 40 50
Strain %
Lens Mounting
As lenses get smaller and bonds more delicate, the strategies to overcome the stresses inherent in the
materials and between adjacent bonded surfaces have become more exacting in order to survive the
environmental rigors that the device will be exposed to. Choosing a material such as the OP-29 or OP-30 that
is resilient and strong with low shrinkage characteristics may be ideal for an application of this type.
Optimization of the adhesive in the bond line can be done with some calculations such as this simple model for
calculating adhesive thickness for a lens mount. A preferred bond line might range from 0.002” to 0.005”, but
can vary from 0.005” to 0.25” or more, with special applications requiring greater than a 0.25” bond line.
Figure 13. Simple Lens Potting Model 4 .
dg
Lens
Low Modulus
Adhesive
hr
dm
Cell / Mount
For minimized stress on the lens:
hr = dg(α m - α g )
2(α r - α m )
Where: hr - Required Elastomer Thickness
dg - Lens Outer Diameter
α m - Cell thermal coefficient of expansion
α g - Lens thermal coefficient of expansion

VII Curing Lamp Considerations
α r - Adhesive thermal coefficient of expansion
Choosing the right curing lamp for the application can be critical. The light source should be selected based on
whether or not the light frequency and intensity matches the curing chemistry of the adhesive being used. One
need to also consider is the throughput needed, matching the shape of the lamp to the area of curing, whether
the manufacturing process is going to be a batch process or continuous, and the speed of cure needed to
achieve a full cure. The parameters that define a successful cure are entirely dependent on the end-product
requirements. In other words, the cure is only successful if the desired properties of the end product are
achieved with ease, consistency and cost effectiveness.
When setting up the process, it is important to determine the minimum light intensity and time of exposure needed
to create a fully cured sample. Measuring the light energy required to achieve full cures easily does this. Simply
increasing or decreasing either the intensity or the time of exposure, an acceptable cure range can be determined.
This information is necessary in order to establish the most cost effective curing process. If the sample does not
receive sufficient light intensity, then the bonds might not form fully, resulting in poor adhesion, or uncured
adhesive.
Thick layer industrial applications have given rise to a UV equipment industry all it’s own. This has been most
noticeable in the last ten years with the development of high intensity spot, or wand style curing lamps designed
to cure small, relatively thick spots of adhesive. Advancements in equipment technology have been directly
attributed to the rapid growth in end use applications and the need for custom manufacturing solutions (rather
than just new adhesives or sealants) to meet customer needs in the assembly of their products. Such
responsiveness to individual end user manufacturing needs through the engineering of equipment systems that
take full advantage of UV technology will continue to support application growth in the future.
Many applications require only lower intensity curing lamps. Bonding between surfaces, one of which allows light
to pass, is one of the applications where resin may be effectively cured with lower intensity, lower cost lamps.
Most UV formulations are capable of curing within 1 to 30 seconds through clear glass or plastic parts under
lower intensity lamps. Because the inhibiting effect of oxygen is not present, cures are relatively fast. Bond lines
are usually fairly thin - 0.001 to 0.125 inches.
The optimum shape or pattern of light emitted by a lamp for any specific application is called its “footprint”, and
depends upon the size and geometry of the bond area and other process recommendations. 6
• Spot - Spot source lamps with light guides are typically used for curing small areas, or areas where light
needs to reach partially obstructed areas that can not be reached by a flood type system.
• Flood – Flood sources offer a large cure area but generally lower light intensity. The emit less heat as well,
and are usually the product of choice for bonding heat sensitive plastic parts. The large area of flooded light
also is useful for curing many parts at once. Flood lights may be fitted over a conveyor or turntable for
continuous product assembly.
• Focused beam – Focus beam lights may also be used over a conveyor, and focus the energy of light into a
higher intensity 1”x6” beam.
The lamps shown below represent a range of equipment available for Optical Adhesive applications.

Bond Box II Flood Lamp
PC-3D UV Spot and Dispenser
Compact Cure Conveyor
Table 7
Typical Thick Layer Adhesive and Coating Cure Rates With A Range Of UV Curing Lamps
Lamp/Type
Spectral Output of Lamps
(nanometers)
Moderate
Intensity UV
Flood
2000-EC
Higher
Intensity UV
Flood
5000-EC
High Intensity
UV Spot
PC-3Ultra
Very High
Intensity UV
Spot
3010-EC
Conveyorized
Beam
2 x 1200-EC
High Intensity
Conveyorized
Electrodeless
Lamps
300-500 200-500 200-500 200-500 200-500 200-500
Nominal Intensity (mW/cm 2 ) 20-60 175-225 1000-2000 1800-5000 225-275 1700 - 2000
Typical Adhesive Cure Rate
Between Surface
Cures (Glass)
On Surface Cures*
Between Surface Cures
(Glass)
(UV/Visible Cure Adhesive)
1-4 sec 1-3 sec

References:
1. A. Bachmann, “Ultraviolet Light Curing ‘Aerobic’ Acrylic Adhesives”, Adhesives Age, December 1982
2. C. Bachmann, “Light Curing Assembly; A Review and Update”, Wavelength, May 1999,
pp 6-10.
3. Registered Trademark, Dymax Corporation
4. M. Bayer, “Lens Barrell Optomechanical Design Principles”, Optical Engineering, 1981
5. J. Arnold, “Low Stress Aerobic Urethanes; Lower Costs for Microelectronic Encapsulation” SME Adhesives 1995, EE95-
263; September 1995.
6. C. Bachmann, “UV Light Selection Requires Fitting Lamp to Application”, Adhesives Age, April 1990, Pg. 19.
LIT#255, 1/00