The ability to deposit precise amounts of material is an ever-increasing necessity for manufacturers, particularly when assembling electronics and medical devices. Methods available for dispensing adhesives, epoxies and a multitude of other fluids cover a wide spectrum of techniques from manual applications like squeeze bottles, toothpicks and hand-plunger syringes to semi-automated tabletop dispensing robots.

In this white paper, Vlad Konopeklo explores the switch from manual squeeze bottle dispensing to benchtop fluid dispensing.

Topics Covered:

• Fluid Dispensing and Production Capacity
• Manual Methods
• Precision Fluid Dispensing
• Air-Powered Benchtop Dispensers
• Positive Displacement Dispensers
• Fluid Considerations
• What to look for in Benctop Dispensing Components
• Syringe Barrels
• Pistons
• Dispensing Tips
• Tip Caps and End Caps

Adhesive technology can be a cost-effective solution to connect components for single use medical products. When bonding transparent or translucent substrates, using a UV curing acrylate adhesive has several advantages; cured acrylates are also compatible with common sterilisation processes such as autoclaving, gamma and ETO.

Dr Detlef Heindl provides expertise on UV curing adhesives compatible with common sterilisation processes for medical products.

Techsil considers the challenges of bonding composite materials and discusses ways to overcome them.

In this white paper, Techsil analyses key adhesives types such as cyanoacrylate, epoxies, polyurethane and UV adhesives and by defining a few key performance or manufacturing requirements can quickly narrow down the search to the most suitable adhesive types for the application.

Various conformal coating materials are used to provide protection and improve performance and reliability of PCBs.

This white paper, written by Kazuhisa Ono for Momentive Performance Materials Japan LLC, looks at the advantages of using silicones as a conformal coating on circuit boards, it includes performance comparison data of two new Momentive silicone conformal coating materials against a silicone resin based on the following tests:

• Gas Permeability
• Sulphur Resistance Test
• Gas Corrosion Resistance Test
• Salt Spray Resistance

For many years UV technology has been a reliable method for the curing of photo-reactive chemicals. In response to increasing production speeds and new applications UV lamp technology has also developed.

Hoenle questions if LED is the future of UV technology and have produced an objective comparison between UV-LED & conventional UV technologies.

Topics Covered:

• Comparison of Technologies (UV and UV LEDs)
• Fields of Applications
• UV LEDs for Adhesive Curing
• UV LED Curing in Printing
• UV LED Measurement

Light curing adhesives are frequently used in the assembly of disposable medical products with high throughput; the speed of dispensing and cure enables the manufacturer to reduce production costs.

Panacol’s medical adhesive portfolio allows a variety of different design and substrate options: needle to plastic and glass hubs and syringes, connectors, housings, filters, catheters, endoscopes, covers, blood filters, face masks and surgical instruments.

In this white paper, Hoenle explores the Fundamental Principles of UV Reactive Manufacturing Processes; covering: the UV-Spectrum, Chemical Curing, Inertization, UV Irradiation, the advantages of UV curing and typical applications.

While the UV Systems technology and the appropriate chemistry have been developing continuously, the principle of irradiation curing has widely remained unchanged. High-energy UV irradiation causes chemical curing of UV reactive coatings within seconds.

Electrically conductive adhesives play a vital part in the electro- and electronics industries. These adhesives are the perfect choice for attaching and connecting electrical or electronic components.   In a growing number of applications, they are used as a more effective alternative to conventional soldering. Crucial for a successful application is not only the right choice of the adhesive, but also the right curing parameters.

In this white paper, Detlef Heindl explores the use of electrically conductive adhesives as an alternatvie for soldering.

Topics Considered:

• Measuring Conductivity and the Influence of Electrical Conductivity
• Curing Influences on Conductivity
• Climatic Influences, including Humidity
• Curing with Water, Cold Curing and Snap Cure

The key to selecting the correct cyanoacrylate (instant) adhesive for your application is having a clear definition of your objectives. An adhesive cannot be selected based only on its bond strength, it is always best to look at as many factors as possible.

Techsil has collated a checklist of these factors to be conisdered when choosing an instant adhesive.

• Materials to be Bonded
• Mating of Bonded Surface
• Speed of Cure
• Asethetic Requirements
• Assembly Environment
• End-use Environment
• Bond Stress
• Joint Design

According to the "Engineer's Guide To Plastics," published by Materials Engineering, adhesives are the most versatile assembly method for joining plastics. They are listed as being capable of joining 36 types of plastics compared to 28 types for mechanical fasteners, the next most versatile method. Methods such as heat staking and ultrasonic welding are limited by comparison, being suitable for 15 and 18 plastics, respectively.

Techsil has been exploring the advantages of adhesives over these other bonding methods for plastics and has compiled a list of 21 reasons to consider.

Topics Covered:

• Advantages of Adhesives over Mechanical Fasteners
• Advantages of Adhesives over Ultrasonic Welding
• Advantages of Adhesives over Solvent Welding
• Advantages of Adhesives over Solvent Cements