What is Dispensing Technique?
Dispensing technique is a complex and highly relevant part of the adhesive bonding process where fluid is dispensed in an accurate and controlled manner. When we talk about dispensing technique, we are referring to the application of the adequate amount of liquid adhesives or sealants onto a specific substrate – at the right time, in the right place and in the most efficient bead shape and size.
Where is it applicable?
Nowadays accurate and precise dispensing techniques are becoming increasingly important in a wide range of industries. They are used for dispensing food products, biomedical products, encapsulants in the semi-conductor industries, and adhesives and sealants in the automotive, general manufacturing and other industries. The dispensing techniques and their areas of use very according to the needs of these industries and their processes.
When and why is dispensing technique important?
Dispensing technique plays a major role when a pre-specified volume of adhesive material or sealant has to be applied on a certain substrate. It is important for a variety of reasons, such as to achieve higher bonding quality, lower cycle times, improved accuracy and lower material consumption. The main purpose is to try to minimize the risk of product failures and injuries to the end-user. Another purpose is to save the customers time and money.
| Why dispensing technique | Reason for using dispensing technique | ||
| Structural and elastic bonding | Sealing | Insulating | |
| Risks that can possibly be avoided by using dispensing technique. | Damage of safety critical parts or final product, which may lead to life-threatening risks for end-user. | Damage of parts or final product due to any kind of leakage in parts or final product. | Damage of parts or final product due to unintentional subjection to heat, sound or electricity. |
| Examples | Injured end-user through accident due to insufficient structural/ elastic bonding in safety critical parts. | Car breakdown due to engine oil leakage. Humidity issues inside the car due to water leakage through car windshield. | Overheating of nearby car engine parts. Noise peaks inside the car. Corrosion of crucial metallic parts. |
Why can dispensing technique be challenging
Nearly every process requires a different dispensing technique; it is true to say that there is no system that offers the required dispensing characteristics in an all-in-one solution.
Since it is not a theoretically well-established science, challenges may occur when dispensing. This is due to the rheological complexity of fluids and adhesives, which can be difficult to study and describe in order to fully understand the behaviors of the materials to be dispensed. Insights into the characteristics of materials when static and their characteristics during dispensing are often only acquired through experiments based on trial and error.