Design Engineering

Dual-cure epoxy for medical tech

By DE Staff   

Materials Medical adhesives epoxy master bond

Master Bond has launched its UV15DC80-1Med, which offers a dual-cure mechanism utilizing UV light for initial fixation followed by heat for complete polymerization. This addresses limitations of traditional UV adhesives by effectively curing shadowed areas that wouldn’t receive sufficient UV exposure, making it suitable for intricate parts and complex geometries. Notably, the adhesive meets ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity standards, demonstrating biocompatibility for medical device applications.

UV15DC80-1Med has excellent resistance to radiation, liquid sterilants and autoclaving. This one part, no-mix epoxy has a moderate viscosity of 20,000 to 40,000 cps for versatile dispensing. It delivers strong bonds to various substrates, including metals, glass, ceramics, and many plastics, with a tensile strength exceeding 5,000 psi at 75°F. The cured adhesive offers a wide service temperature range from -80°F to +350°F (-62°C to +177°C) and a high glass transition temperature of 125 to135°C. Additionally, it maintains optical clarity with a refractive index of 1.52 at 589 nm.

As a cationic system, UV15DC80-1Med exhibits minimal sensitivity to oxygen. The initial UV cure/tack can be achieved in seconds with UV light (325-365 nm) at a minimum UV radiation intensity of 20-40 mW/cm2. Areas with limited UV access need to be subsequently cured with heat at 80°C within 40-60 minutes. To maximize performance, post-cure at 80°C for 2 to 4 hours or 125°C for 30 to 60 minutes is recommended. UV15DC80-1Med is available in various container sizes, ranging from a ½ pint to 5 gallons, to suit project needs. It’s also offered in convenient 30 cc syringes for manual or automated dispensing.

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