Challenge

Technology LED in Beauport, Quebec is a technology leader for integrating light emitting diodes (LEDs) into signs, signals and architectural lights. Their products must be 100% reliable while withstanding frequent cycles between hot and cold extremes, constant exposure to the elements, and high vibration. Achieving these performance requirements while maintaining competitive costs is an ongoing concern for the Technology LED team.

To ensure that they had the best solutions currently and remained on the leading edge of technology, Technology LED desired to develop a strategic partnership with a leader in the adhesives and sealants industry. The partner would act as an extension of their engineering department becoming a resource for new product designs and design changes.

When compared to traditional incandescent light bulbs, LED’s are smaller in size, brighter, more resistant to impact and vibration, tailored to specific colors, and have a much longer lifetime (more than 100,000 hours).

• These LEDs are integrated into signs and signals that offer greater messages in fixed forms or with animation. (Figure1 illustrates a variable speed limit sign that can display 30 or 50 mph depending on the time of day).
• The benefits of LEDs are also leveraging in other innovative products, such as MR-16 and PAR-20 bulbs which directly replace halogen bulbs (See Figure 2) and spot lights, but offer a much longer life.

Solution

Technology LED developed a relationship with Henkel. Loctite® branded products offer the broadest range of adhesives and sealants available ensuring that all possible solutions are considered for engineering challenges.

As an extension of their design team, the close proximity of the local account manager ensures fast response to inquiries and the deep staff of technical experts for Loctite® branded products gave Technology LED access to an engineering resource they could not maintain internally.

Results

Loctite® branded adhesives are used throughout Technology LED products. Several of the applications are described below:

Bonding LEDs to Panels

Loctite® 495™ Super Bonder® Instant Adhesive is used to bond LEDs to alpolic, aluminum and acrylic panels for signs and signals (See Figure 3). Loctite® 495™ fixtures in seconds, achieves good strength and it is the only adhesive that has been identified as fully compatible with the LEDs.

Gasketing Sign Covers

Loctite® 5150™ Silicone Adhesive is used to bond and seal the acrylic panels to the sign housing (See Figure 4).

• It is non-corrosive and achieves good bond strength to the acrylic cover.
• It is extremely flexible allowing it to accommodate the stresses caused by the frequent thermal cycling from - 35 to 60oC.
• It is also used to seal the joints for aluminum cases and to bond printed circuit boards to panels.