Araldite® 2033, a flame retardant adhesive from Huntsman Advanced Materials, has been selected by a global white goods manufacturer to help optimize manufacturing and deliver excellent mechanical properties to essential electronic components on a washing machine.
This two component structural adhesive allows the coil and printed circuit board (PCB) to be pre-assembled in accordance with the specifier’s preferred manufacturing techniques, enabling economical joining combined with high temperature resistance and room temperature curing.
While lab tests were originally undertaken to investigate the possibility of using a neutral RTV silicone to assemble the electronic components, during the wave soldering process the silicone boiled at elevated temperatures and was not able to maintain the components’ bond.
For this application, the adhesive has to combine high toughness with vibration resistance and good temperature resistance. During manufacturing, the coil is bonded onto the PCB with Araldite® 2033, which also acts as a damping material to prevent soldering material fatigue at 110°C.
Complementing the wave soldering process, Araldite® 2033 also supports fast production cycles and fast curing. Once the 1 minute 110°C cycle is complete, it takes between 2 to 6 hours for the adhesive to obtain sufficient green strength. At this point, thanks to its room temperature curing capabilities, final curing can take place as subsequent activities such as packaging, stocking and transportation to the place of final assembly are undertaken.
This UL 94 V-0 approved adhesive is particularly beneficial in exhibiting flame retardancy alongside excellent adhesion on metals.
Araldite® 2033 was originally selected following consultation with Huntsman’s Slovakian based distributor, Biesterfeld Silcom. Moving forward, it is expected that the white goods manufacturer will use this Araldite® bonding solution for the wave soldering process to assemble between twenty to fifty thousand PCB units.
www.huntsman.com/advanced_materials
Patricia Albisser
Huntsman Advanced Materials (Switzerland) GmbH
K-401.5.77
Klybeckstrasse 200
CH-4057 Basel
Switzerland
Phone: +41-61-299 2664
Fax: +41-61-966 8130
Email: patricia_albisser@huntsman.com
