The various material selections and pairings of flexible tubing and rigid connectors often create significant assembly challenges in high volume production. Materials used to create infusion lines, catheters, and similar medical devices may include TPU, TPE, PEN, polyamides, Pebax, polycarbonate, ABS and PEEK. These thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers provide many desirable properties, but some combinations can be difficult to bond. After assembly, these materials are challenged by torsional stresses at the points of transition between the soft tubing and the hard connector. Panacol said it has developed the adhesive Vitralit UV 7030 to specifically address these complex issues.
“Vitralit UV 7030 is a one-component, solvent-free UV curable acrylic adhesive. It can be cured with light energy in the broad UV-A spectrum, or with LED systems that produce either 365 or 405 nm wavelength. This adhesive cures in seconds at layer thicknesses of a few 100 µm, ensuring high bond strength immediately after UV exposure,” the company said in a press release.
“A key feature of Vitralit UV 7030 is its high elongation at break, 250%, combined with good tensile strength. When exposed to black light, Vitralit UV 7030 fluoresces, which enables visual process control. Vitralit UV 7030 is certified to USP Class VI standards and suitable for typical sterilization processes including gamma, EtO and autoclave.”
