The use of ultraviolet light or UV for curing of adhesives has been known for more than half a century. However, the process has gained more widespread influence over the last decade or so, particularly because of the large number of electronic devices with optical features that have come to the market. This is especially true of industries such as radiology and medical diagnostics that involve a significant use of optical glass products.
UV adhesives, also known as UV glass adhesives or glass glue, are known to have very fast curing times, often even a fraction of a second, when they are exposed to UV light. The curing process is fairly simple – a UV light of extremely high intensity is used to cure the adhesive. Needless to say, in the absence of UV light the surfaces on which the adhesive is used, do not stick.
The great advantages of UV adhesives are their high optical clarity (excellent refractive index), negligible joint fatigue, water resistance and high performance to extremely harsh environments. Being a single part adhesive, they are easy to apply and manage. Users are well in control of where and how they apply the adhesive, since there is no chance of curing without UV light. This allows them to ensure accurate contact between joints before the curing process starts.
Because of these features, UV glass adhesives are very popular with optical and medical equipment. Glass glue is more often than not, used to put together various components in medical devices, including disposables and reusables. Also, glass glue if used in optical devices where there is a need for resistance to extremely high temperatures.
While there are many popular brands of UV glass adhesives available in the market, PARSON Adhesives has some of the most popular and reliable UV glass adhesive products. Sold under the PARLITE® brand of UV curable adhesives, PARSON offers an extensive range of UV adhesives for medical and optical equipment, with specific products for glass bonding, optical devices and medical equipment.
PARLITE® Glass Bonding Adhesives
4111: Bonds glass to metals. Very high viscosity and shear strength.
4116: Low viscosity, multi-purpose adhesive that works well with glass, metal and plastics.
4130: High adhesive properties and suitable for attaching glass with a wide range of metal surfaces.
4145: Cures with UV as well as heat. Highly suitable for deep curing of metals to glass.
PARLITE® Adhesives for Optical Assembly
4435: Multipurpose adhesive, activated by UV or heat. Used for deep curing.
4450: Very high viscosity and strength.
PARLITE® UV Adhesives for Medical Devices
4011: Specialized adhesive with strong adhesion to thermoplastics, used for bonding hypodermic needles to hubs.
4025: High viscosity UV glass adhesive, suitable for bonding intravenous tube sets, oxygenators, diagnostics electronics, etc.
4027: Generally used in face masks, tube sets, breathing circuits, resuscitator bags, etc.
4031: Low viscosity UV adhesive that works well with breathing circuits, butterfly sets and masks.
