Nobody likes to get too hot, and if your high-tech electronics could talk, they’d say they feel the same way. Heat is their enemy. It reduces longevity and limits reliability, two non-negotiable properties in electronics. The lack of one or both can literally mean the difference between life and death in applications such as autonomous driving and aerospace controls.

Medical device and componentry, ranging from needle/catheter assemblies to more complex designs, continue to explode in popularity and functionality. Recent pandemic events have, of course, contributed to a huge upsurge in urgency and demand for hypodermic needles. The call for high performance and reliability has not abated, but there is now the additional requirement for high speed and cost efficiency at a level never before seen.

Adoption of plug in -electric vehicles (EVs) has been slower than many expected, but there is little question the next few years will see adoption accelerate. Your hypersensitive dog will have to find new visitors to harass when your delivery drivers arrive without notice, driving to your door silently in all-electric commercial vans. Many of your favorite suppliers and stores have already ordered these vehicles. Game-changing battery and charging developments are eliminating range anxiety, and autonomous driving controls and safety innovations are in the final stages of building our trust.

Modern hydrogen fuel cell technologies require ever more sophisticated and reliable electronic control systems to assure both safety and longevity. Hydrogen fuel cells are gaining in popularity in critical industries including automotive, aerospace, ocean transportation, military, and power microgrid systems among others. Protection of printed circuit boards and their components from physical, chemical, and thermal damage is essential to produce robust and reliable fuel cell systems for demanding applications.

EMI and RFI shielding of electronic devices can be critical to their reliability and safety. Proper protection and shielding are vital in many challenging industries including aerospace, medical devices, and transportation. In addition to shielding, grounding of devices as well as protection from galvanic corrosion can extend service life and reliability. Chase Corporation has developed a unique line of preformed gasketing and shielding materials that can combine to serve the multiple functions of shielding, grounding, and corrosion resistance within a single material.

image: Plastic transitioning from solid to amorphous

One of the most common terms that you hear when discussing polymers used as adhesives and coatings is the “glass transition temperature” (often abbreviated T_g). This property is in fact one of the most critical to consider when choosing the correct material for your application. Since many of us never got further than high school physics and chemistry, this term can be a little confusing and deserves explanation.

A layman’s definition of the glass transition temperature of a polymer is the temperature at which an amorphous polymer moves from a hard or glassy state to a softer, often rubbery or viscous state.

Two-component epoxies are versatile, viable adhesives and encapsulants that have demonstrated their value in the manufacture of electronics, medical devices, aerospace components, and many others. They provide superb electrical and mechanical properties along with the ability to resist extreme environments such as high and low temperatures and chemical exposure.

As part of our commitment to industry and customer support, we believe that our experience with two-component epoxies can be of value to manufacturers faced with certain processing and troubleshooting issues. While far from a comprehensive guide, we present below two common issues experienced when working with epoxies, as well as some tips on how to fix them.

The past few decades have seen the emergence and use of ultraviolet (UV) light cured polymers across a range of industries and applications. UV cured polymers have proven their value in applications such as printing inks, adhesives, and protective coatings among others.

One of the first industries to accept and utilize UV curing polymers was the printing industry. Existing technology was mainly polymers and inks dissolved or suspended in highly flammable and hazardous solvents such as Toluene and Xylene. UV curable inks and coatings were ideally suited for this industry. Their nearly immediate curing allowed for high speeds, and their 100% solids composition often eliminated the need for pollution and fire control technology.

Axis 310 and Axis 310-W are the most recent additions to Resin Designs’ growing line of medically tested and qualified adhesives. Both products are single component epoxies for simplicity in application. Their heat curing chemistry provides added temperature and chemical resistance properties. These adhesives bond to a wide range of substrates typically found in the design of high-performance medical devices.

In our previous blog we introduced one of our products GT-1030 as an effective solution to problems related to sealing and protecting wire bundles and harnesses. In this blog, we will provide a step-by-step process in how to effectively waterproof small wire bundles.