Henkel’s hot water debondable epoxy simplifies solar silicon wafer slicing

August 24, 2011
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Henkel has introduced ‘Loctite 3382’ in an effort to simplify silicon ingot bonding and protect against wafer breakages. Loctite 3382 provides improved bonding strength of the ingot in the sawing process and is de-bondable in hot water. This new bonding solution helps to avoid corrosion of the equipment and is free of caustic odor.

Problem

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Loctite 3382 replaces traditional epoxies that require caustic acids for debonding.  This adhesive breaks down easily on exposure to hot water, eliminating corrosive debonding solutions and minimizing silicon waste that occurs during the wafer-cleaning process. 

Solution

Henkel’s new bonding solution is a water de-bondable epoxy adhesive providing bond strength to both silicon and the glass and metal mounting substrates used during the ingot sawing process. As this two-part epoxy is pink when cured, during visual inspections it is easy to distinguish from the silicon ingot and the metal and glass mounting substrates. Homogenous and stable, Loctite 3382 sets up in just 5 to 7 hours and is claimed to provide a consistent cutting layer that reduces edge damage and wafer breakage. This epoxy’s improved bond strength means the adhesive will not prematurely de-bond during the sawing process, protecting the ingot and the wafers from damage.

Applications

Silicon ingot bonding for wafer slicing.

Platform

Easy to dispense using meter-mix equipment, Loctite 3382 is packaged in cartridges, pails and drums.  This adhesive emits no caustic odor, will not corrode equipment, and is fully-compatible with current wafer cleaning solutions and processes.

Availability

August 2011 onwards.

Read Next

December 22, 2025
The Chinese government has lodged a complaint against India with the World Trade Organization over alleged subsidies to its solar industry.
December 22, 2025
European Energy has secured approval for its 1.1GW Upper Calliope solar project in Queensland near Gladstone, Australia. 
December 22, 2025
Emmvee, through its subsidiary Emmvee Energy, has begun operations at its 2.5GW solar module manufacturing plant in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
December 22, 2025
The PV Review, 2025: this year has seen many papers and reports on solar PV modules reliability and performance issues, especially with TOPCon.
Premium
December 22, 2025
Tracker producer Nextracker has rebranded as Nextpower to reflect the wider portfolio of products and services it now offers.
December 22, 2025
As utility-scale solar projects grow, managing voltage drops remains a critical challenge for EPCs and system designers. Jason Coleman of Terrasmart explores how optimising eBOS architecture offers a solution while delivering cost savings.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland