Light-curing adhesives ensure reliable bonds that meet industry standards, ensuring consistent manufacturing outcomes and preventing failures.
It is crucial for manufacturers integrating light-curing adhesives into their production process to ensure long-term function and reliability. Adhesives are subjected to rigorous testing to assess their behaviour under various operational and environmental stresses to meet these demands.
Dymax Application Engineering Lab Services
Dymax's application engineering lab offers a variety of testing services to help customers select the best equipment and light-curing adhesives for their manufacturing. The team provides evaluations, reports, and ongoing support throughout the process.
Dymax’s Services Include:
• Testing and evaluation
• Product and process design recommendation
• Pre-production trials
• Adhesive recommendations
• Cure time optimisation
• Parts assembly guidance
Adhesive Testing Capabilities
Dymax carries out a range of tests in its laboratory, adhering to ASTM industry standards and Dymax Standard Test Methods (DSTM). The company also utilises external testing labs for additional analytical and application capabilities. These tests provide data to engineers, ensuring adhesives meet application-specific requirements.
Dymax Testing Methods
Corrosion Resistance Testing
Corrosion resistance testing assesses how well an adhesive can protect bonded/coated materials from oxidative degradation, typically caused by salt, moisture, or other corrosive agents. While the adhesive may not corrode, it must shield underlying materials from exposure to these elements.
Why it’s important: For manufacturers of products like outdoor electronics, automotive parts, and marine equipment, corrosion resistance is essential. Without it, bonded joints/coated surfaces may weaken over time, compromising structural integrity and leading to costly maintenance or failure in harsh environments.
High-Temperature Resistance Testing
High-temperature resistance testing evaluates an adhesive's ability to maintain its bond strength and physical properties when exposed to elevated temperatures for prolonged periods. This test is important for aerospace, automotive, and electronics components, where materials often encounter high-heat environments. Adhesives that fail high-temperature resistance testing risk softening, weakening, or degrading, leading to potential product failures.
Why it’s important: Products exposed to high operational temperatures, like engine components or electronic devices, must rely on that can withstand thermal stress. This test ensures that a are minimally affected by this thermal stress, helping to support product longevity.
Thermal Shock Resistance Testing
Thermal shock resistance testing exposes adhesives to extreme temperature changes, evaluating their ability to maintain structural integrity without cracking, delaminating, or losing bond strength. Typically, adhesives cycle between extreme cold and hot temperatures in a short period.
Why it’s important: During use, sensors, automotive parts, and electronics experience rapid temperature fluctuations. Adhesives that fail thermal shock tests can crack or delaminate, leading to mechanical failures or electrical shorts. This testing ensures adhesives can withstand real-world conditions where rapid temperature changes are inevitable.
Flame Retardancy Testing
Flame retardancy testing determines an adhesive's ability to resist ignition or limit the spread of flames when exposed to fire. This resistance is often measured by the adhesive's self-extinguishing properties and how much smoke or toxic gases it produces during combustion.
Why it’s important: Industries like electronics and aerospace require adhesives with flame-retardant properties to comply with fire safety regulations. Ensuring that adhesives pass these tests helps minimize component damage and helps products achieve necessary safety certifications.
Temperature/Humidity Resistance Testing
Temperature/humidity resistance testing assesses how an adhesive maintains its stability and bond strength when exposed to high humidity and high temperatures. The adhesive is placed in a controlled chamber where heat and moisture levels are cycled or sustained for extended periods.
Why it’s important: Adhesives used to assemble outdoor equipment, household appliances, and automotive interiors must withstand heat and moisture ingress. Adhesives that fail these tests may swell, weaken, or delaminate, leading to early product failure in humid climates or weather-exposed applications.
Chemical Compatibility and Resistance Testing (for Conformal Coatings)
This test assesses how well conformal coatings resist degradation or swelling when exposed to a variety of chemicals, such as cleaning agents, oils, solvents, or industrial fluids. Samples are submerged or exposed to specific chemicals for set durations to assess any changes in adhesion, flexibility, or surface integrity.
Why it’s important: Printed circuit boards (PCBs) and electronic devices require conformal coatings that can withstand exposure to chemicals used during maintenance and cleaning and endure harsh conditions without degradation to improve performance and long-term reliability.
Ensuring Compliance and Reliability with Dymax Testing
Investing in these tests can help reduce the risk of costly failures and enable compliance with industry standards. Dymax offers testing tailored for each customer’s application, offering insights to guide adhesive selection and process improvement. In addition, the team provides ongoing support to ensure light-curing adhesives and processes align with customer needs.
