Electrically Conductive Adhesives

Electrically Conductive Adhesives (ECAs) are used for high-reliability applications such as aerospace, medical, automotive, and consumer products. However, Henkel also offers ECAs that are non-noble metal compatible which are ideal for handheld consumer devices. In both cases, conductive glues, adhesives, and epoxies offer viable lead-free solder alternatives for active and passive component attachment across a range of applications.  

Henkel’s LOCTITE^® range of conductive adhesives for electronics offer strong component and PCB interconnections for on-demand, long-term, and reliable performance. Our broad portfolio of electrically conductive pastes is formulated using a variety of base chemistries including acrylate, epoxy, and silicone platforms, each of which is designed to provide manufacturers with choice and flexibility for varying requirements. 

Additionally, Henkel’s chemical technologies ensure easy application in any setting. Whether that’s using snap cure, heat cure, room-temperature cure, or dual component conductive adhesives. Learn more about our electrically conductive glues, adhesives, and epoxies below and discover how Henkel can advance your automotive, medical, telecom, and consumer devices through better materials designed to meet today’s challenges.  

Contact a member of our team to learn more about our products and to discuss your specific requirements.

Versatile Electrically Conductive Adhesives

There are a number of reasons electrically conductive adhesives might be a more suitable alternative to other methods of bonding and adhesion. These high-performance adhesives are often used as an alternative to solder in applications where the components being bonded are temperature sensitive. Given the cure temperature of an ECA is far below that of relfow temperatures, this opens the door to sensitive componentry, less energy usage, and flexibility of processing 

Henkel’s electrically conductive adhesives are ideal for use in electrical interconnect, thermal, and structural bonding applications for improved reliability in electronic systems. Ensuring strong bonds, superior conductivity, and efficient thermal dissipation, each of our electrically conductive pastes and epoxies delivers best-in-class performance to enhance any assembly or application.  

For manufacturers that require both faultless electrical performance and thermal dissipation functionality, Henkel’s electrically conductive adhesives are the most dependable adhesives on the market, delivering proven reliability and easy integration within a range of industrial processes that can be designed to fit around your specific application or environment.

Electrically Conductive Adhesives Product Line

Electrically conductive adhesives are essential tools in a number of industries. Used to bond aerospace, automotive, medical, and telecoms electronic assemblies, they offer a high-performance alternative to solder. Each type of electrically conductive adhesive has its own range of benefits. This allows manufacturers to find the electrically conductive solution that best suits their applications and requirements. 

Choose a Henkel electrically conductive adhesive and your applications benefit from strong adhesion, superior conductivity, and excellent thermal dissipation. As our adhesives are used in a range of applications across a variety of industries, we’ve created a robust portfolio of products that offer specific benefits and advantages. Manufacturers can choose from a range of resin bases, and cure temperatures to find the product that is suitable for the application.

Electrically Conductive Epoxy Adhesives

Electrically conductive epoxies are ideal for use in processes where the risk of mechanical and thermal cracking is high. Epoxies are also commonly used when the components being bonded are sensitive to heat, and so are unsuitable for soldering. 

ECAs can be used in applications which involve high reliability or temperature sensitive components. With an array of curing temperatures and application methods (jetting, screen printing, dispensing) electrically conductive adhesives offer flexibility to a production line and a wider scope for electronic assembly.

Electrically conductive epoxies come as either one or two-part adhesives. One-part epoxies are normally heat cured. This means that care must be taken to choose a cure schedule that won’t compromise sensitive electronic components. Two-part epoxies comprise of a resin and a hardener. When filled with silver, both one and two-part epoxies are effective substitutes for solder.

Manufacturers often choose electrically conductive epoxy adhesives to connect components in automotive radar and camera systems. For this reason, electrically conductive adhesives have multiple applications in electronic assembly, no more so than ADAS sensors (Radar, LiDAR, Camera, ADAS data modules and ECUs). Given the flexibility needs relating to processibility and application, these adhesives contribute to ADAS, an increasingly important tool in road safety.

Electrically Conductive Silicone Adhesive

Two of the most common uses of electrically conductive silicone adhesives are for EMI/RFI shielding and for antistatic systems. Our electrically conductive silicone adhesives are specially designed for applications where both high flexibility and excellent conductivity are required. It’s also recommended for use in mounting small components to a variety of interconnect substrates.

Henkel offers electrically conductive adhesives which offer more mechanical flexibility. Our portfolio includes modified epoxy or silicon-based alternatives to counter high CTE mismatch, flexible substrates, or gasketing. Additionally, conductive fillers offer excellent EMI shielding properties. Combine this property with flexible resin bases and Henkel offers a wide range of solutions in application where EMI shielding is of upmost importance.

Electrically conductive silicone adhesives are often used in the automotive industry as a connective interconnect for ADAS cameras and radars as well as LiDARs. They can also be used in electronic assembly in a wide range of industries such as medical, telecom, and aerospace .

Snap Cure Conductive Adhesives

Henkel’s LOCTITE^® ECCOBOND line of snap curable conductive adhesives provide excellent adhesion and reliability, cure times of less than two minutes, and in-line processing capability for exceptionally high throughput. For applications with large coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatches between substrates, or fine-pitch flip-chip interconnections where electrical conductivity is desired in only one direction, Henkel has an electrically conductive adhesive to meet the challenge and ensure increased efficiency and reliability.   

The main benefits of LOCTITE^® ECCOBOND snap cure conductive adhesives are:

• Cure times of less than two minutes 
• In-line processing capability for exceptionally high throughput
• Suitable for applications with large coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatches between substrates
• Suitable for fine-pitch flip chip interconnections where electrical conductivity is desired in only one direction
• Low viscosity
• Fast flow
• Excellent wettability 
• Excellent adhesion

Heat Cure Conductive Adhesives

Electrically conductive adhesives cured using heat are required for a number of manufacturing challenges such as die to substrate bonding, passive component attachment, and the bonding of heat-sensitive components across a range of applications. The Henkel portfolio includes products from such trusted brands as LOCTITE^® ECCOBOND and LOCTITE^® ABLESTIK, with varying cure speeds, viscosity, and pot life to provide versatility and easy application in any environment.  

Two-Component Conductive Adhesives

Henkel’s two-component electrically conductive adhesives require no refrigeration or freezer storage and include products that provide high peel and tensile lap shear strength over a broad temperature range. This also includes silver-filled epoxies recommended for electronic bonding and sealing applications that comply with the requirements of NASA’s outgassing specification. These advanced conductive adhesives provide excellent adherence to a range of surfaces where other types of glue or epoxy are unsuitable. Our electrically conductive adhesive products also cure at room temperature and can be used for bonding and sealing applications for heat-sensitive devices that require superior electrical and mechanical properties, with no heating equipment required.

Industrial Applications for Electrically Conductive Adhesives

Electrically conductive adhesives are used extensively to create precision applications, parts, and components for the aerospace, automotive, medical, telecom and consumer devices. These solutions can be used as an alternative to solder. Using an electrically conductive epoxy or electrically conductive paste as an alternate to solder offers a number of benefits including lower costs, improved performance, and faster production times. 

Applications of Electrically Conductive Adhesives in the Automotive Industry

Manufacturers in the automotive industry often use an electrically conductive adhesive as a connecting solution for precision assembly  including ADAS radars, LiDARs, and cameras. These adhesives are well-suited to the process as they offer high-reliability and excellent performance. 

Applications of Electrically Conductive Adhesives in the Electronics Industry

Electrically conductive adhesives are primarily used for electronics assembly. These adhesives are ideal for electrical interconnect but also for thermal and structural bonding applications, offering improved reliability in electronic systems. 

The heat produced by soldering can cause problems during the manufacture of precision electronic products. Solder reflow temperatures may hinder temperature sensitive componentry usage. Electrically conductive adhesives and electrically conductive pastes don’t need to be heated to the same high temperatures as solder. This means they are suitable for use as an alternative to solder. Using an electrically conductive solder paste alternative in this way helps to protect sensitive electronic components without compromising the functionality of the electronic parts. Lower curing temperatures of ECAs will protect sensitive electronic components without compromising the functionality of the electronic assembly.

Further Resources

For more information on Henkel’s electrically conductive adhesives, download the PDFs here. Alternatively, contact us today for more TDS and SDS sheets or to ask any questions.