How To Use A UV Adhesion Promoter For Bonding?

UV adhesion is slowly but surely taking over the world of traditional mechanical fasteners like bolts, screws, welds and other such bonding devices. It is being used in quite diverse industries from medical to furniture to automotive which is quite mind blowing honestly.

The reason for adhesive tapes being so popular and replacing many old trusted methods is their light weight, excellent bonding between various surfaces and the most important thing that they bring to the table is the exact fit which stays stable for a long time.

But having said that, bonding to two parts together with an adhesive does come with its own set of challenges. Most of the surfaces which are to be bonded by adhesive first need to be treated with an UV adhesion promoter.

What is an UV Adhesion Promoter?

An adhesion promoter is basically an additive to the paint that is useful in promoting the adhesive to the substrate. It is like a resistance coating that gives extra hold and a better bond between two surfaces.

The close accord between the adhesion promoter and the substrate makes the bond permanent and strong. If the coating of the adhesion promoter is not done properly or insufficiently then it means that the final performance will be highly compromised.

Which means that not only is the adhesion an important factor but also bond plays a pivotal part. One of the most popular, efficient and reasonable adhesion promoters is the UV adhesion promoter which, like conventional promoters, improves the performance of an adhesive on the substrate and allows it to bond well.

The UltraViolet adhesion promoter has a fluorescent indicator which makes them visible under the UV light. These allow you to check whether or not the primer is properly applied with the UV lamp. Now that you know what a UV adhesion promoter is, let's get started with the application process and how to get the best bond.

Application Tricks for UV adhesion Promoter for Maximum Effectiveness

When it comes to the application of the UV adhesion promoters, striking the perfect balance is the key. You need to apply the perfect amount of the promoter to the surface as per the requirement of the customer.

If you are applying too little, it can cause structural failure, easily breakable bonds and a shorter life of the product itself. On the other hand, if you have over done on the adhesion promoter, it will cause problems as well which can be detrimental for the products overall longevity. Too much adhesion means longer drying time that can harm the ability of the products to bond well. You will also need more time under the UV lamp which in turn will reduce the productivity level and eventually your profits.

The key here is to apply thin layers repeatedly, this will give you higher accuracy, good bonding and better productivity. UV adhesion works for almost any kind of material be it glass, metal, heat transfer vinyl sheets or paper for that matter. For any kind of surface, thin coating works the best.

How to Apply a UV Adhesion Promoter/Primer?

Before telling you how to apply an UV adhesion promoter or primer you first need to understand the subtle difference between the promoter and primer. The promoter is an additive to the paint whereas the primer is a diluted solution of an adhesive in an organic solvent.

Now that we know the difference between the two, let’s get on with the how-to steps of UV adhesion application. The first and the most important step is to ensure that the surface is clean, dry, degreased and smooth. In order to ensure that, you can use cleaners and degreasers of industry level. The next step is to shake the bottle well so that everything is mixed well and comes out as one. Apply the promoter or primer to the surface in the perfect amount that coats the entire surface at one time.

To check if the amount to spread out is perfect or not, you can use a UV lamp to see the distribution using UV goggles or other eye protective accessories, if needed. It takes around 15-30 seconds for the primer to evaporate and around 30-90 seconds for the promoter to dry up under the UV light.

In case of a second application, make sure you let the first coat dry and then the second coat of promoter/primer is applied. Another very important application tip is that you need to make sure that the UV ink properly wets the surface, there are no dry patches or areas. The better it wets the surface the better and stronger the bond is.

In order to have the best application of your promoter/primer, you’ll need some extra tools and equipment. These tools include a lint-free cloth, brush, applicator pad, pressure gun, roller and more such tools.

You also need to invest in protective gear like gloves, UV goggles and if needed a respirator. You might also need to invest in long term protective gear if you have a lot of exposure to the UV rays. Once done, apply the industrial adhesive tape or glue to fully seal and protect your priming.

Uses of UV Primer/Promoter

As told earlier, the UV adhesion promoter or primers can be used for a wide variety of surfaces like metal, acrylic, glass, plastics and wood. These primers and promoters are generally transparent or translucent which allows them to adhere to this wide range of surfaces. The UV indicator is very useful as it ensures even application of the promoter/primer and also improves quality of the product exponentially.

Conclusion

UV adhesion promoters are the game changers in the adhesive industry. If you wish to make the maximum usage of this technology than read this article carefully as you will find many useful tips and tricks to get the best results.