UV curing glue requires exposure to UV light for bonding. It can bond dissimilar objects and is used in home craft and industrial settings. The glue is available in clear, white, or colored base and is used for glass, metal, and wood. It does not require special ventilation but eye and skin precautions are necessary. Curing equipment ranges in size and lamps last up to 3,000 hours.
The acrylic substance known as ultraviolet (UV) curing glue requires exposure to that particular wavelength of light before full bonding occurs. The advantage of using UV curing glue is the ability to quickly glue dissimilar objects. Glue and UV curing systems are used in home craft applications and in industrial settings.
The UV lights used for curing emit light in wavelengths ranging from 320 to 400 nanometers. When exposed to light, a photochemical reaction starts the curing process of the glue. Depending on the type of glue used, bonding can occur immediately or within a minute or two. Some substances require an additional one to two hours before adequate adhesion occurs. Individuals typically apply the glue to the object as small dots in the manufacturer’s suggested location, number, and size.
The UV-curing glue is available in a clear, white or colored base. Some brands even contain decorative glitter. To ensure adequate penetration of the shorter wavelengths of UV light, at least one of the objects to be bonded must be transparent. The adhesive provides a strong bond when used to join glass to glass, glass to metal, or glass to wood. Curing does not require specific temperatures and, once completed, the bond is usually unaffected by atmospheric temperatures.
This glue does not require special ventilation because the substance does not contain toxic fumes. Manufacturers suggest, however, that people use eye and skin precautions because the wavelength required for adequate polymerization can cause harm. Most manufacturers also sell protective eyewear and screens that can block harmful UV-A radiation. Industrial applications for UV-curing glue span a wide range of possibilities, including circuit boards used in aerospace technology, electronics and telecommunications. Common uses include adhering crystals to watch faces, repairing jewelry, and repairing windshields.
Curing equipment ranges in size from a single tabletop spot lamp, or flood lamp, to conveyor belt models. Some of these machines sit on a table and contain six inch (15 cm) wide curing areas. The larger floor models contain curing areas measuring up to 25 inches (64cm) wide. Conveyors can hold up to eight lamps on the sides and top of the machine, providing full 180-degree UV exposure.
Lamps used for UV curing glue typically last up to 3,000 hours. After this time, the wavelength decreases in capacitance. Users commonly use radiometers to measure light intensity for quality control or safety purposes. This portable, battery-operated gauge connects to a probe that’s like the little mirror dentists commonly use to look at the surfaces of teeth.
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