As industrial manufacturing increasingly demands high precision and optimized efficiency, selecting the right industrial adhesive is no longer just a quality issue. It directly impacts productivity, process stability, and overall operating costs across the entire production line.
Among today’s most widely adopted solutions are anaerobic adhesives and UV anaerobic adhesives.
What Is an Anaerobic Adhesive and Why Is It Critical in Manufacturing?
Anaerobic adhesive is a single-component liquid adhesive that cures only when oxygen is excluded and metal ions are present. Curing occurs exclusively within the confined gap between two metal surfaces, forming a durable and long-lasting bond.
Key Characteristics of Anaerobic Adhesives
- Cures only in sealed metal-to-metal gaps.
- Ideal for thread locking, metal surface sealing, and internal component fixation
Curing Mechanism of Anaerobic Adhesives
- Anaerobic adhesives consist of monomers and initiators. When exposed to air, the adhesive remains liquid and does not cure.
- Once applied between two metal surfaces, oxygen is eliminated. Metal ions activate the initiator, triggering polymerization. Monomers continuously link together to form a three-dimensional polymer network, resulting in full curing.
- Result: a strong, stable bond between metal surfaces.
Key Advantages of Anaerobic Adhesives
- Fast curing in confined metal joints without heat or additional catalysts
- High mechanical strength and durability, with resistance to shear, tensile loads, vibration, heat, oils, and chemicals
- Easy to use and suitable for mass production. As a one-component adhesive, it can be applied directly and works well in both manual operations and automated lines
- High dispensing accuracy when combined with diaphragm valves and precision metering systems, ensuring repeatability and uniformity
What Is a UV Anaerobic Adhesive?
UV anaerobic adhesive is an advanced version of anaerobic adhesive that combines two curing mechanisms:
- UV surface curing: UV exposure instantly cures the outer layer within seconds, providing immediate fixation after assembly.
- Anaerobic internal curing: The adhesive inside the joint continues to cure anaerobically, ensuring complete and durable bonding.
This dual mechanism enables rapid fixation even when part of the bonded surface is not metal or remains exposed to air.
Advantages of UV Anaerobic Adhesives
- Flexible dual-cure behavior for assembly efficiency. UV curing provides immediate handling strength, allowing operators or robots to proceed without waiting, while anaerobic curing ensures long-term reliability
- Compatible with multiple materials, including metal, glass, and transparent plastics such as PC and PMMA
- Higher automation throughput by reducing waiting time and reliance on fixtures, saving both time and floor space
- Broad application range, including electronics manufacturing, consumer goods, automotive components, and medical devices
Typical Applications of Anaerobic and UV Anaerobic Adhesives
| Application | Description |
| Thread locking | Fills thread gaps to prevent loosening and leakage, replacing mechanical locking methods |
| Metal surface sealing | Used in pumps, valves, and gearboxes without gaskets |
| Bonding dissimilar materials | Metal-to-glass and metal-to-transparent plastic bonding |
| Electronics assembly | Micro-dispensing for lenses, display modules, and device housings |
| Automated production lines | Fast curing and precise dispensing improve productivity |
