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

February 5, 2026
Figures from the Global Solar Council (GSC) suggest that Africa added 4.5GW of new solar PV capacity in 2025.
February 5, 2026
Sunwafe has selected Spanish engineering firm Tresca Ingenieria for the development of its 20GW ingot/wafer manufacturing facility in Spain.
February 5, 2026
Vietnam is the cheapest country to produce fully domestic solar modules outside of China, according to a report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
February 5, 2026
Portuguese PV cleaning specialist Chemitek Solar has launched a new solution for drone-based cleaning of agrivoltaic systems.
February 5, 2026
The governments of Turkey and Saudi Arabia have signed a 5GW renewables agreement to develop power plants in the former country.
February 5, 2026
Explainer: Two new studies offer fresh insights into the performance of TOPCon solar modules, including a new degradation mode related to encapsulants.

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
February 18, 2026
9am PST / 5pm GMT
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
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA