Posted to News on 17th Jun 2020, 12:00
Patented cyanoacrylate adhesives reduce manufacturing trade-offs
Adhesives specialist Intertronics has been appointed as a distributor of Born2Bond, a new range of cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesives, said to be suitable for bonding applications in high-technology industries such as medical devices, electronics assembly, and automotive manufacturing and aftermarket. According to Intertronics these new, patented products can overcome the speed issues of a traditional methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate (MECA) product, but still offer the stability and strength of an ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA), meaning manufacturers can use CA adhesives with fewer compromises.
Cyanoacrylates are recognised as a quick and relatively strong structural adhesive option, and are the only fast-bonding adhesives that are single part and cure at room temperature without an external energy source. However, historically, they have come with numerous compromises including odour, blooming, limited performance, and brittleness. ECAs are commonly used to bond plastic, metal, wood, and ceramics, with MECAs used in applications requiring low odour and low bloom. Another way to overcome some of the compromises to date has been to use rubber-toughened cyanoacrylates, which improve resistance to stress, vibration and temperature. However, these products are either slower to cure, not suitable for gap filling or are more expensive, adding alternative trade-offs.
Peter Swanson, Managing Director of Intertronics explains: "There has historically been a negative perception of cyanoacrylates, due to their limitations. Despite this, there has been very little innovation in cyanoacrylate chemistry in the last 15 years until now. Born2Bond adhesives are manufactured using a new "crackless' process. This means that it is possible to overcome many of the issues associated with the methoxyethyl cyanoacrylates, while retaining the benefits of ECA products".
The new product line includes three ranges. Born2Bond Ultra, the fastest MECA-based product on the market, comes in four viscosities and is low blooming, low odour, fast curing, non-irritant and offers increased flexibility and instant adhesion on multiple surfaces. Born2Bond Light Lock is a dual-cure product type that cures with either light or moisture and offers low bloom and odour, is non-irritant, tack free and offers a long open time with light activation. Light Lock is available as a gel and high viscosity product and is certified to ISO 10993-4 and ISO 10993-10 for medical device applications.
Born2Bond 2K products from Intertronics come in a two-part cartridge and include Structural, which offers a short fixture time, gap filling and high toughness. Structural is also said to offer temperature resistance of up to 120degC together with a significantly longer open time than alternative products. The Repair product is sandable, has high bond strength, offers gap fill and is notably faster than alternative products. Flex, as the name implies, offers elasticity and instant bonding, for which Intertronics states there is no equivalent technology on the market.
The Born2Bond products will complement Intertronics' current CA product range, offering an additional option to manufacturers looking to reduce the trade-offs associated with CAs. More information from Intertronics can be found at www.intertronics.co.uk/born2bond.
