Enabling Circular Electronics
Business challenge
Sustainability & Net Zero
Sector
Electrification
Technology or capability
Manufacturing Systems
Evaluating ReUSE® Conductive Adhesives with In2Tec
Driving sustainable innovation in electronics through advanced materials testing
In2Tec is a pioneer in sustainable electronics, developing technologies that enable fully reusable and disassemble electronic systems.
With support from Innovate UK EDGE funding, In2Tec partnered with MTC to evaluate its ReUSE® conductive adhesive technology.
The project aimed to benchmark ReUSE® against conventional solders and adhesives to assess its potential to support circular design principles in printed circuit board assemblies.
Project Challenges
ReUSE® is a proprietary family of materials and design approaches created to support circular electronics. To progress its next development phase, In2Tec needed detailed insight into how environmental conditions, assembly variation and component type affect joint strength and reliability.
The key challenge was determining whether ReUSE® adhesives could meet stringent mechanical and reliability requirements while still enabling end‑of‑life disassembly, repair, and material recovery.
MTC's Solution
MTC worked closely with In2Tec to design a bespoke process test coupon and deliver a rigorous experimental assessment of the ReUSE® technology.
The evaluation covered:
- Component types: Passive components and integrated circuits
- Footprint sizes: 0805 and 1206
- Joining approaches: ReUSE® conductive adhesive vs. low‑temperature solder
- Environmental variables: Ageing, solvent exposure and assembly variation
Testing methods included:
- Non‑destructive X‑ray imaging
- Destructive shear testing and failure‑mode analysis
- Statistical interpretation of joint integrity and failure characteristics
This structured approach ensured data‑rich, objective benchmarking against standard assembly methods.
This project exemplifies how collaborative testing and advanced analysis can accelerate the development of sustainable technologies. Our work with In2Tec highlights the potential of ReUSE® adhesives to transform electronics design for a circular economy.
Chris Powley, Technical Specialist – MTC
The Outcome
The test programme provided critical insight into the mechanical and reliability performance of ReUSE® adhesives. In2Tec gained a deeper understanding of improvement opportunities, along with a robust, data‑driven foundation to guide future refinement and commercialisation of the technology.
Benefits to the Client
- Independent, evidence‑based validation of ReUSE® adhesive performance.
- Identification of opportunities to improve joint integrity.
- Increased confidence in product reliability for end‑users.
- Strategic support for embedding circular‑economy principles in electronics design.