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

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

September 11, 2026
European Energy Australia has completed the installation of all 200,172 solar modules at its Winton North solar plant in northeast Victoria.
September 11, 2026
Mint Renewables has referred a solar-plus-storage site with a capacity of up to 375MW, paired with a 3,000MWh BESS, to Australia's EPBC Act.
September 11, 2026
New Zealand's solar generation rose 56.2% year-on-year to a record 242GWh in Q2 2026, according to the latest New Zealand Energy Quarterly.
September 10, 2026
The US added 11.4GW of solar PV capacity in Q2 2026, a 45% year-on-year increase, according to data from SEIA.
September 10, 2026
Sonnedix has secured US$1.3 billion refinancing covering 1GW solar and wind and 117MW BESS under construction in Chile.
September 10, 2026
US technology giant Oracle is seeking proposals for 2GW of solar PV, wind power, geothermal and “other renewable technologies” to power its data centre operations in New Mexico.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 13, 2026
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Solar Media Events
November 3, 2026
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
November 24, 2026
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
February 2, 2027
London, UK