3M is adding Scotch-Weld multi-material composite polyurethane adhesives DP6310NS and DP6330NS to its structural adhesive portfolio. These products are designed for light components in trucks, buses, RVs, special vehicles and passenger rails, as well as other markets such as sporting goods and panels.
More and more design engineers rely on composite materials to reduce costs and increase the likelihood of lightweighting in assemblies. Conventional mechanical fasteners are not very effective for these materials because their fatigue limits stress absorption and, in many cases, engineers must make sacrifices to accommodate the limited capabilities of mechanical fasteners.
Scotch-Weld multi-material composite polyurethane adhesives are engineered to create long-lasting adhesives on medium to high energy surfaces such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, reinforced plastic and painted or unpainted metal. Very little processing. The 3M report says that the fast and powerful adhesion of these adhesives opens the door for design engineers to explore new designs. Robust, long-lasting bonding for dissimilar materials requires products with high energy absorption. The modulus of these adhesives is formulated to provide high strength and durability to the bonding of the composite to the metal.
There are several advantages to using structural adhesives such as Scotch-Weld Multi-Material Composite Urethane Adhesives instead of conventional fasteners such as screws, rivets and bolts. Drilling holes on plastic substrates for screws or bolts can cause cracking and other premature failure. The adhesive maintains structural integrity and provides a strong bond across a wide variety of metals, plastics and composites. The incorporation of adhesive into automotive components is a simple way to eliminate the added weight of mechanical fasteners. Structural adhesives also improve the aesthetics of the design while reducing the installation time and cost associated with traditional joining methods.
“We see the use of composites in design as a growing trend, but it is often not efficient, economical or aesthetic to assemble these materials with mechanical fasteners,” said Chris Enstrom, 3M's Structural Adhesive Marketing Manager. “The wide applicability of 3M Scotch-Weld multi-material composite polyurethane adhesives makes it a new standard for composite bonding, especially in the transportation and sporting goods industry.”
Scotch-Weld adhesives have a low odor and are available in two versions with different processing times for a range of applications. The 10-minute working life version is ideal for fast, targeted applications with a time of approximately 45 minutes. The 30-minute working life version, followed by the two-hour clamping time, is designed with large surface applications in mind. The extended cure time gives the user more time to use the product and ensure a firm bond. The 10 and 30 minute working life versions are typically used without primer, speeding up the application process.
