Page 4 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 26th October 2020
P. 4
ADHESIVES...
Managing blooming in an
adhesives process
Cyanoacrylates (CAs) are a popular adhesive choice for many applications, but one
downside of their fast curing speed is that they are quite volatile, which can cause
blooming. Here Peter Swanson, Managing Director of adhesives specialist
Intertronics, shares his tips on how to manage and prevent blooming in your process
f you have ever used a cyanoacrylate adhesive blooming might imply a quality problem to your
(often known as “instant adhesive” or customer. If you are making medical devices,
“superglue”), you may have seen blooming — jewellery, electronic instrumentation, consumer
Ia chalky, white residue usually around the edge electronics or loudspeakers, for example, you may
of the bondline on the surface of your part. understandably be concerned about blooming
Importantly, blooming does not affect the integrity of compromising the appearance of your products.
the adhesive bond, but it will be undesirable if CAs cure very rapidly, usually by exposure to the
aesthetics are important to you, or if the presence of moisture on the surface of the parts. They achieve
October 2020 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p4
