Curing Of The UV Adhesive

In practice, UV light from special lamps is used for targeted curing of UV adhesives. This technology is key, for example, in bonding glass and other transparent materials.

The time required for curing depends on several factors:

  • the type of UV adhesive (see our range of Loxeal adhesives),
  • the layer of adhesive applied
  • the power of the UV lamp, its appropriate range and the degree of wear,
  • the thickness of the material,
  • the UV transmittance of the materials to be bonded,
  • the distance of the UV lamp from the adhesive

The pre-cure time normally ranges from 10 seconds to 2 minutes, the final cure time from 60 seconds to 5 minutes. Under unfavourable conditions it may be even longer.

We always recommend a test to determine the exact irradiation time for a particular application. Longer irradiation times do not adversely affect the quality of the joint, but will not produce any additional positive effect either.

Because UV adhesives absorb UV radiation, curing is only possible to a small depth. For this reason, it is necessary to irradiate not the joint itself, but the entire bonded area as permanently as possible.

Place the UV lamp as close as possible to the glued area, as the lamp power decreases significantly with increasing distance.

The UV adhesive curing process takes place in 2 stages:

  1. Handling strength - within a few tens of seconds the so-called working strength is reached (approx. 70% of the final strength). The UV adhesive cures faster in the joint than in the air, therefore it is possible to clean (without using a cleaning agent) the pre-cure joint from the adhesive that has been extruded and is still liquid.
  2. Final curing - after a few minutes, almost 100% strength of the bonded joint is achieved. Adhesive residue can be removed with a scraper or steel wool. It is recommended to leave the glued object for about 3 hours to allow the glue to fully react and reach maximum strength. A cleaning agent can be used to finish cleaning.

White spots in the joint area often indicate a fracture in the cured adhesive. They are most often caused by moisture or internal stresses in the material.

Tip: choosing the right UV lamp

When selecting a UV lamp, always check its usable length. It is important to irradiate the entire glued edge at once for even curing. If the lamp is shorter and you have to move it around, the glue will cure unevenly, which can cause tension and later cracking of the product.

 

This topic is also part of our glass bonding seminar.

 

The article was written by:

Martin Valášek

Flat glass, paints, UV adhesives

technical support, blasting systems

cookie

We use cookies

We use cookies to help you browse the site, offer personalised content or advertising, and analyse traffic anonymously, which we share with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can adjust their settings using the "Cookie settings" link and you can change them at any time in the footer of the website. For more detailed information, please see our Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Do you agree to the use of cookies?

I agree. Disagree Settings
close

We use cookies

To help you browse the site, offer personalised content or advertising and analyse traffic anonymously, we use cookies that we share with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can adjust their settings using the "Cookie settings" link and you can change them at any time in the footer of the website. For more detailed information, please see our Privacy and Cookie Policy.

Do you agree to the use of cookies?

Necessary (technical)

Preferential (functional)

Statistical (performance)

Advertising

close

Cookies