Ultraviolet-cured adhesive

Description

An adhesive that rapidly cures in situ using ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet-cured adhesives were first used in the early 1960s but became more prevalent in the 1980s as technology and equipment improved. These low-viscosity adhesives are composed of a monomer, a low-molecular-weight prepolymer and a photoinitiator. When exposed to UV radiation, the photoinitiators form free radicals that induce polymerization. Cure can be done at low temperatures and in visible but poorly accessible areas. Examples of UV-cured adhesives are some types of silicones, urethanes, and methacrylates. They are often used in the electronic, automotive, and medical fields.

Synonyms and Related Terms

ultraviolet cured adhesives; UV cured adhesive; adhesivo que fragua con una radiación UV (Esp.)

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "adhesive" Encyclopædia Britannica [Accessed February 12, 2002

• Irving Skeist, Handbook of Adhesives, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York, 1977