Panacol has developed a new UV-curable acrylic adhesive that is certified to USP Class VI biocompatibility standards for medical device assembly applications. According to Panacol, Vitralit^® UV 7030 features high elongation at break, excellent adhesion to difficult-to-bond plastics, and rapid curing under UV light.

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 reports that it developed 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 reportedly cures in seconds at layer thicknesses of a few 100 µm, ensuring high bond strength immediately after UV exposure. 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.

For additional information, visit www.panacol.com.