Innovation Workshops / Feasibility Studies

Measuring adhesive shrinkage

principle setup / Measuring adhesive shrinkage
© Fraunhofer IZM
principle setup
different adhesives, different shrinkages characteristics (layer thickness 100µm)
© Fraunhofer IZM
different adhesives, different shrinkages characteristics (layer thickness 100µm)
shrinkage in % from different adhesives (layer thickness 100µm)
© Fraunhofer IZM
shrinkage in % from different adhesives (layer thickness 100µm)

The fact that adhesives shrink during UV-curing is well known and denoted in most data sheets by the manufacturers as volume- or linear shrinkage. Depending on the reference, these measured values relate to different measuring techniques and standard samples and thus can be transferred to the concrete case of operation only within limits. With our measurement setup it is possible to investigate customer specific samples and the behavior of adhesive shrinkage under real conditions. The resolution of the Sensor is 50nm. Most adhesives with a layer thickness 100µm has a shrinkage from 3 up to 10µm. The repeat accuracy is below 10%.

Our measurement setup:

  • Sample size (glass cube 5mm)
  • Layer thickness (100µm)
  • One curing setup (UV exposure)
  • measuring 5 samples same conditions

Shrinkage Measurements of UV-Curable Adhesives

An elegant method based on a laser distance sensor for in-situ measurements of the polymerization shrinkage –
Published in the „Optik & Photonik“ (4/17)