Surface preparation before gluing the glass

Today we will be looking at the preparation of surfaces before gluing

All surfaces to be bonded must be absolutely dry and clean. The edges of the glass must be straight and ground, and polished for maximum bond strength. If the edge is only sanded, the bond strength is reduced by about 50-60% and bubbles may form in the adhesive during subsequent curing due to its uneven layer. A maximum filling gap of 0.5 mm is recommended.

Cleaning

For cleaning of the bonded surfaces we recommend using a cleaning agent with IPA (isopropyl alcohol) or acetone.

When using other cleaning agents, tests should always be carried out as some of them may contain impurities unsuitable for UV adhesive bonding.

A wide range of wipes suitable for cleaning glass can also be found in our e-shop.

Heating

In order to ensure a high permanent stability of the joint, it is recommended to heat up the glued parts before starting work to remove even invisible moisture residues (condensation). Heat all glued parts slowly and evenly to avoid subsequent stresses in the glued joint.

CAUTION! The rapid evaporation of the cleaning agent causes the glass and metal to subcool and a microscopic layer of airborne moisture to precipitate on the surface. This disappears when the surface is heated to approx. 50°C ( heat gun, hair dryer). Moisture reduces the strength of the joint, even if the joint seems to hold well, but later the joint may fracture.

The materials to be bonded and the adhesive must be at the same (room) temperature.

In general, the smoother the surfaces of the bonded materials and the thinner the adhesive layer applied, the stronger the bonded joint.

CAUTION! Never shake the adhesive to avoid air bubbles!!!!!

We will be happy to advise you on choosing the right UV adhesive. You can find a range of UV adhesives and other bonding aids in our e-shop.

This topic is also part of our "Gluing Glass" course in our GDS Academy.

Article written by:
David Batla
Owner of GDS Technology s.r.o.