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Experts: Structural adhesives cheaper, lighter, faster than other joining methods for OEMs

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Market Trends | Repair Operations | Technology
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Adhesives deliver a cheaper, faster and lighter solution than other types of joining, according to Volkswagen and Dow Automotive.

Using structural adhesives can cut factory spot welding as much as 50 percent, cutting up to 22 pounds of metal from the mass of the vehicle, Dow Automotive Solutions North America structural adhesives field marketing manager Selamawit Belli said Thursday. (See her presentation here.)

Every 10 percent stripped out of total vehicle mass — one-third of which comes from the body — means a 6-8 percent gain in fuel efficiency, Belli told the 2016 U.S. Automotive Megatrends summit. Adhesive not only saves weight itself, but it allows you to join a wider variety of substrates which otherwise would face heat and/or corrosion concerns — delivering even greater weight savings while preserving safety.

The more weight you can shave from the car, the smaller its engine can be — leading to even more weight savings. This means OEMs are closer to meeting federal and global emissions/fuel economy standards as well as giving customers better gas mileage.

“Structural adhesives will make a significant impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of new consumers,” a Dow slide boasted, noting greater demand in developing countries.

Belli estimated that every meter of structural adhesive cuts 1.3 to 2.4 pounds of weight out of the car — and some European vehicles are already up to 200 meters of adhesive, she said.

“They’ve used structural adhesives for decades,” she said.

Perhaps even more importantly to OEMs, adhesives can join aluminum to steel cheaper and faster — 50-100 percent faster — than any other method out there, according to Volkswagen data Belli presented.

Structural adhesives can join aluminum to steel cheaper and faster -- 50-100 percent faster -- than any other method out there, according to 2009 Volkswagen data Dow Automotive presented March 17, 2016. (Volkswagen data presented by Dow Automotive)

Such glues can help OEMs with ease of use. For example, adhesive can be applied to a surface in one location and shipped to a manufacturer who then cures it.

“Disruption never pays out,” she said.

Gluing the car together delivers other benefits as well. Static stiffness can rise 20 percent, giving a sportier, more responsive ride, thanks to the strength and increased surface area of the adhesive bonding. That ride also likely will be quieter, delivering only a couple of Hertz of noise.

Adhesives combined with spot welds can be far stronger than spot welds alone. (Provided by Dow Automotive)

Finally, unlike new joining methods like laser welding, you can actually deploy adhesives in the aftermarket as well. Collision repairers should expect to see more of it — if they haven’t already — and it’s vital to know how to apply it and the difference between structural adhesives and mere panel bonding/body filler agents.

More information:

“Adhesive Solutions: Lightweigh(ng Technologies”

Dow Automotive via Automotive Megatrends USA, March 17, 2016

Images:

Using structural adhesives can cut factory spot welding as much as 50 percent, cutting up to 22 pounds of metal from the mass of the vehicle, Dow North America structural adhesives field marketing manager Selamawit Belli said March 17, 2016. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)

Structural adhesives can join aluminum to steel cheaper and faster — 50-100 percent faster — than any other method out there, according to 2009 Volkswagen data Dow Automotive presented March 17, 2016. (Volkswagen data presented by Dow Automotive)

Adhesives combined with spot welds can be far stronger than spot welds alone. (Provided by Dow Automotive)

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