Photo Credit: BTG Labs Henkel (Rocky Hill, Conn., U.S.) and BTG Labs (Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.) are collaborating to establish more sophisticated guidance regarding surface preparation to maximize the performance of adhesives and obtain effective bonding results. The partnership expects to create “win win” scenarios with customers by updating its technical data sheets (TDSs) to provide clear processing specifications and technical documentation on proper handling techniques. More specifically, within Henkel’s Loctite product line, three products now have water contact angles (WCAs) included in the Surface Preparation section of the company’s TDSs. WCAs, which are a calculation of surface free energy by evaluating the interface of a liquid and a solid surface are said can consistently provide an objective measurement of whether a surface is properly prepared for adhesive bonding. These products — Loctite Ablestik 8175, Loctite Ablestik CF3350 and Loctite Ablestik 5025E — are used in a variety of applications including solder replacement in microelectronic interconnect applications, electrical, thermal and mechanical assembly applications and bonding “hot” devices onto heatsinks.