A new LED-curable adhesive designed for bonding and assembly of next-generation catheter designs using Nylon 12 and PEBA has been introduced by Dymax Corp. (Torrington, CT).

The MD 215-CTH-UR-SC adhesive is formulated with Encompass technology that combines Dymax's See-Cure color change and Ultra-Red fluorescing with LED-curing capabilities. This combination provides secure bonds with the added benefits of easy cure confirmation and post-cure bond-line inspection.

The adhesive is suited for a number of catheter applications including bonding the lumen to the balloon or hub, marker band assembly, and manifold bond joints.

The adhesive is blue in color in an uncured state for easy verification of placement. As the product cures via exposure to UV light, it becomes colorless, providing visual confirmation that the adhesive is fully cured and that the bond site is secure. 

215-CTH-UR-SC fluoresces bright red under low-intensity black light (365 nm), contrasting extremely well on plastics, such as PVC, that naturally fluoresce blue. This allows manufacturers to incorporate automated or manual quality inspection to verify complete and accurate placement of the adhesive after cure.

In addition to adhesives and coatings, Dymax also offers high-performance oligomers as well as a variety of dispensing and light-curing equipment.