Connecticut, US – Dymax’s HLC (hybrid light-curable) adhesive platform has been granted a patent. Its aim is to improve the curing performance of urethane (meth)acrylate compositions.
The first adhesive in the series, Dymax HLC-M-1000, is designed for medical applications, meeting several biocompatibility standards. It cures within seconds with low-intensity light, and can wick into extremely tight bond joints because of its very low viscosity of 3cP.
The company said the technology combines the benefits of anionic polymerisation and free radical chemistries into a single formulation. Its advantages are said to include a fast cure, low-to-no blooming after proper light cure, better aesthetics, humidity resistance, and more flexible joints than ordinary cyanoacrylates.
The downside of standard UV-cured materials is that uncured areas can be left behind in areas the light cannot reach. This compromises the reliability of the final product, and can weaken adhesive bonds over time. Dymax said that HLC addresses the issue of incomplete curing in dark areas with a rapid moisture/contact cure capability. Bonding to a broad range of substrates, including materials that are opaque and light-blocking, is possible.
HLC adhesives form a cross-linked polymer framework, enabling the successful bonding of small gaps or larger joints. Light-curing also reduces the risk of blooming, the company said, as the cross-links are formed before the monomer can volatilise.
