UV curing adhesives, or ultraviolet curing adhesives, use the ultraviolet light or a similar form of radiation to permanently bond to materials without direct heating. Curing with UV works with products or materials made from ceramics, glass, concrete, metal, fabric and wood. Rubber, paper and plastic can also bond with ultraviolet adhesive curing. Common UV curing systems, or chemicals, for setting include UV curing epoxy, acrylic, styrene copolymer, vinyl, silicone and polyester. Fillers, fiber reinforcements and pigments are also sometimes used for ultraviolet adhesive curing.

UV curing systems should be evaluated for their processing times, as well as physical, mechanical and thermal properties before purchase. Gap fill and viscosity are the common physical and processing properties of UV curing adhesives. Thermal properties include temperature range and thermal conductivity, or linear heat transfer through a product under specific temperatures. Another thermal property, thermal expansion, shrinks a UV curing adhesive under temperature constraints. Other steps to take before purchasing UV curing adhesives for your business include:

1. Locate suppliers of UV curing adhesives and other bonding materials.

2. Pick UV curing machines or UV curing equipment at reasonable prices.

3. Find accessories such as epoxy or silicones that aid with UV curing adhesive bonding.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find suppliers that distribute UV curing adhesives

Look for certified suppliers of UV curing adhesives. Materials should have high-performance capabilities for bonding with products or structures made from metal, glass, wood and more.

I recommend: Dymax Corporation offers UV curing adhesives strong enough to bond to metal, plastic, glass, optical and other equipment in seconds. Master Bond also produces UV curing systems for high-performance adhesives. Non-corrosive, UV curing adhesives from Hernon Manufacturing bond to preassembled electrical products.

Choose reasonably priced UV curing machines and equipment

Buy UV curing equipment for coating, dispensing or other applications.

I recommend: Ellsworth Adhesives distributes UV curing equipment such as dispensers, flood lamps, radiometers and conveyor systems. Loctite Industrial manufactures ultraviolet curing systems and UV curing machines for packaging and paper, metal processing and appliance industries. Epoxies, Etc. also produces UV curing adhesives as well as UV curing equipment.

Buy additional UV curing adhesive accessories

UV curing epoxy and UV curing glue are some of the items used with ultraviolet curing adhesives.

I recommend: All Seals distributes light guides and spot systems for ultraviolet adhesive curing. Chicago Glue Machine & Supply Company distributes packaging materials, cleaners and pumps for name-brand UV curing adhesive systems and other types of adhesives.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Other UV curing systems include solvent-based resins made from volatile organic compounds that change the viscosity, or flow resistance, of adhesives. However, most manufacturers rarely use solvent-based UV curing adhesives because they pose an environmental risk.
• •  Electrical and optical properties such as conductivity, dielectric strength, relative permittivity, transmission and refraction are additional specifications of UV curing adhesives. Setting of ultraviolet curing adhesives on materials may be instant or require extra time, depending on curing temperatures.