Henkel starts production of composite auto components

This high temperature resistance means that the fiber-reinforced composites can be demolded more quickly. With the internal release agent ensuring easy detachment of the component from its mold, the resultant surface is of sufficiently high quality to allow immediate painting and bonding. This accelerates the production process and enables manufacture of external and visible components of outstanding surface quality.

Flexible inclusion within an integrated concept

For the automotive industry particularly, integration within an overall package is essential for this technology to be regarded as application ready. Consequently, Henkel offers individually formulated adhesives designed to ensure the reliable process integration of the different component materials within the framework of advanced multimaterial concepts.

The various elements must be ideally coordinated if the adhesives are to perform to their full potential. “With Loctite MAX 3, we now have a matrix resin system that further increases the feasibility and attractiveness of manufacturing automotive parts from composite materials,” says Frank Deutschländer, Global Market Manager Automotive at Henkel AG & Co. KGaA.

“Working closely with KraussMaffei, we have optimized the properties of our resin so that both painted coatings and adhesives can be applied to the resultant composite surface without the need for any pretreatment.” With the adhesives portfolio from Henkel, this gives rise to a complete system solution enabling the manufacture and integration of composite components in automobiles.

Henkel