Assembly and manufacturing processes are highly dependent on the rapid and effective curing of ultraviolet (UV) adhesives. Historically, mercury arc lamps have been used as the curing source in a wide range of industrial applications and processes to polymerize adhesives. With its broad spectrum and high output at various peak wavelengths in the UVA, UVB, and UVC regions, lamps have provided an effective solution for many years. However, older mercury lamp solutions incur disadvantages such as shorter life spans and higher operational costs, which can be eliminated by a newer technology: light emitting diode (LED) solutions.
Until recent years, UV LEDs have been a technology faced with a number of barriers that have prevented wide commercial adoption. High cost and limited availability of LEDs, low output and efficiency, and thermal management challenges, combined with adhesive compatibility, were factors that prohibited market traction. With advancements in UV LED technology, however, the use of UV LEDs for adhesive curing has become increasingly prominent.