EXFO is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of light-based delivery systems. Our focus is within the following market applications:

UV Curing of Adhesives

UV Curing of Adhesives for Medical Device and Optoelectronics Manufacturing

EXFO offers a unique set of market-leading photo-polymerization (adhesive light cure bonding) products to companies and organizations focused on the medical device and optoelectronics market, including precision assembly applications such as catheters, hearing aids, endoscopes, camera modules, and cell phones.

The benefits of UV curing materials are fast cure times, low temperature requirements, and low out gassing compared to solvent based thermal cure materials. UV cure materials are especially useful for the assembly of heat sensitive devices. The majority of UV cure materials are acrylate or epoxy based. Acrylate based materials exhibit fast curing characteristics with a radical photopolymerization mechanism; epoxy based materials normally exhibit prolonged photopolymerization reactions after exposure to UV light.

The efficiency of the photopolymerization process is strongly dependent upon the overlap of the spectral power density of the curing system and the photoinitiator's absorption spectrum. The standard HBO or mercury lamp offers multiple wavelengths with peak emissions which may be of benefit for curing numerous materials using a single type of lamp system. For example, the standard UV curing system offers versatile curing for both UV acrylate and epoxy materials. [insert spectrum of Hg lamps and typical photoinitiator absorption spectra] However, the broad range of wavelengths may also cause excessive heating, uncontrolled reaction rates and shrinkage. In some special cases, photon bleaching may also occur, such as in the case of ink or DVD writable organic dye. Filters may have to be used to eliminate the IR and/or UVB and UVC spectral components to prevent the detrimental effects of the multi-wavelength curing. Alternatively, UV LEDs may be used if the adhesive and curing configuration allow.

Medical Device Manufacturing

EXFO UV spot curing systems are used extensively in the manufacturing of cardiovascular catheters for a number of bonding applications, such as balloon bonding, hub bonding, marker bonding, and electrode bonding; each requiring a strong and repeatable bond of different materials. The critical nature of cardiovascular catheter assembly requires a UV spot curing system with the highest level of control, such as the OmniCure® S2000 system.

Another significant application for UV curing systems in the medical device market is for needles and syringes, including prefilled syringes such as those used in insulin pens.

Opto-electronics Manufacturing

UV spot curing is used in high volume opto-electronics assembly, where manufacturers are attracted towards UV technology due to the higher manufacturing efficiencies and low cost of production. UV spot curing can be used in applications where alignment of parts such as lenses is required or where heat sensitive components are being joined.

The global opto-electronics market is the largest segment for UV spot curing system and includes many diverse applications such as:

1. Compact camera modules for cell phones
2. Optical pick-up units for CD/DVD/Blu ray players or drives
3. Hard Disk drives
4. Small LCD screens for cell phones, GPS systems, digital cameras
5. Microspeakers for cell phones, Bluetooth headsets
6. Optical modules for telecommunications