New light curable adhesives for wearable consumer electronics

Intertronics has introduced the Dymax 9200-W Series of next-generation light curable encapsulants and structural and optical-positioning adhesives. The range is created with low-sensitising ingredients for products that are touching, or near, the skin, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, VR headsets or goggles, earbuds, and headphones, and for applications where devices cannot be hermetically sealed. The materials cure in seconds on UV and/or visible light exposure, permitting greater throughput and decreased processing costs.

The series has been developed without isobornyl acrylate, a common skin irritant that reduces skin sensitivity concerns in consumer wearable electronic devices. During the assembly of such products, the materials are suited for optical and lens positioning, assembly bonding and sealing, electronics encapsulation, wire and flex tacking, and structural bonding. The four products in the series are ideal for different parts of the assembly process and can be utilised individually or in combination for a total solution. Though not designed for direct skin contact, they are appropriate for products that are worn on the body for short- or long-term periods, where extractable or leachable materials might be a concern.

The series materials allow high bond strength and exceptional moisture resistance to improve the reliability of devices. Alongside the technical benefits, there are process advantages, too. The adhesives and encapsulants are made of 100% solids to ensure no solvents are released during application and curing. This also stops the necessity for solvent handling while enhancing worker safety and minimising environmental impact. Also, the materials cure 'on-demand' in seconds of exposure to the correct wavelength of light. Manufacturers can also opt for one of the two formulations, with secondary moisture cure that aids the curing of shadow areas.

"Globally, there has been a remarkable increase in consumer demand for smartwatches, headphones, hearing aids, AR/VR glasses, and other consumer electronics products in the last few years," said Ben Swanson, chief commercial officer at Intertronics. "These new materials incorporate all the technical and process benefits of light curable materials to the consumer wearables market while being designed specifically with skin sensitivity in mind. This brings manufacturers confidence that their products will be safe, reliable, and long-lasting for consumers."