All you need to know about the best epoxy adhesive glue for automotive plastic to metal
James Yuan
All you need to know about the best epoxy adhesive glue for automotive plastic to metal
Automotive glue plastic to metal is a type of glue that is used in the automotive industry. This glue can completely bond two dissimilar materials like plastics and metals.
For a long time, adhesives have been applied in the automotive business sector to easily create different efficiencies. Advanced adhesives and sealants are usually applied in different areas for components in the automotive industry. These adhesives are used excessively in the assembly of vehicles. Since vehicles come with plastics and metals that are bonded together, these automotive glues can be used to create elaborate bonding between the two non-porous materials. The use of glues and adhesives has systematically transformed the automotive processes that previously depended on fasteners and welds. Automotive glue has also given vehicle product designers much freedom to add more functional and aesthetic components.
The evolution of the automotive industry
Transportation due to the sophistication of the automotive industry has tremendously evolved into its current state. Thanks to the availability of automotive glue plastic to metal adhesives, it is now possible for product designers to conceive various automotive components. The driving mechanism and engine systems for modern vehicles have changed rapidly. From horse carriages to steam power to internal combustion engines and down to electric cars and hybrids. Things have changed tremendously. Apart from the evolution of vehicle engines, the external chassis and construction have also changed tremendously.
The evolution of adhesives
Adhesives are as important just like any other joining and fasting method. But adhesive has various benefits over other available methods of fastening and joining objects. Over the years, automotive glues have slowly evolved. Glues can be used to bond metal and plastic parts together in the assembly of vehicles. Advanced adhesives and sealants can be used safely and effectively to replace important traditionally used mechanical fasteners. Before the use of engineering adhesives to bond automotive parts, there was the use of mechanical fasteners. These mechanical fasteners were traditionally applied in the automotive industry to hold mechanical components like metals and plastics together. However, the use of glues has replaced the use of mechanical fasteners. Also, the use of automotive glue plastic to metal has added design and prototyping freedom to the modern vehicles used today.
While the use of glues and adhesives is not a new trend in modern industrial processes, the growing application of these glues is innovative and groundbreaking. The growing application of the glues can be used to enable design trends and styles that were not even possible ten years ago. Driving the increased adoption of the use of adhesives is a global megatrend in the ever-evolving world of vehicle assembly. When it comes to the application of automotive glue plastic to metal in vehicles, there are several areas where adhesives and sealants can be applied.
While all adhesives used in the automotive industry are not all suitable for metal and plastic bonding, that hasn’t stopped the use of glue for vehicle assembly. A wide range of engineered adhesives is used for the assembly of a modern vehicle. Currently, with the availability of electrical vehicles, the use of engineered adhesives has only found increased application. Adhesives are highly essential in vehicle assembly because of their subtle nature of bonding. Adhesives once used in a vehicle component, are rarely seen. They are thus very critical to the comfort, aesthetics, and performance of the vehicle.
Adhesive application for vehicle assembly
Automotive glues are engineered adhesives that have been formulated especially for peculiar applications. The applications of adhesives can be classified by the location where most of the assembly operations are done. In this case, adhesives in the assembly of vehicles can be used mainly in the
Trim shop: This involves parts like decorative glass, sidelights, and windshields. There are components like high-performing antennas, tail lamps, headlamps, and door handles. These components all benefit from the use of advanced adhesives. In these cases, adhesives can be used to glue plastics to metals.
Engine: Adhesives can be applied in the assembly of vehicle engines. This way, engineered glue can be used to bond components that are subjected to constant motion and extreme temperatures. This means that the performance requirements will be adjusted slightly for the engine section compared to every other part of the vehicle.
Body shop: Adhesives are used widely in the body shop of most vehicles. It can be used to bond hang-on components like lift gates, hoods, and doors. Due to the various performance requirements of the parts, engineered adhesives are produced accordingly to meet these requirements. Adhesives used here are driven by specifications. Many original equipment manufacturers of these vehicle parts usually specify different types of sealants and adhesives to be used on these parts.
Automotive glue plastic to metal: The role of manufacturers
Adhesive manufacturers know to formulate a wide range of engineering adhesives for use in various applications in the assembly of vehicles. Adhesive manufacturers produce adhesives based on their use cases and applications. This means that the use of adhesives for bonding vehicle parts is depended on various factors. These factors include (but are not limited to):
• The materials (plastic/metal) that are to be bonded,
• The bonding assembly method (heated dispense, room temperature, manual, or automated), and
• The process of curing (cold or heated curing)
Also, it is important to determine the performance requirements of the substrate/adhesive interface (the bonding joint). It is important to account for performance requirements in terms of the location of the bonded materials. Will the bonded part be located in the structural body of the vehicle? Will they be located at a place where they will be subjected to constant motion? All of these should be accounted for by the user and the manufacturer.
For mixed material bonding like plastic to metal connection, the responsibility lies in the manufacturer to create the right properties for the automotive glue. It is important to note that different materials contract and expand at different rates (e.g. plastic, metal, steel, carbon fibre, or aluminum). The use of automotive glues can be used essentially to compensate for the difference in expansion coefficients of the materials. This means that the glue in this can be used as an interface to cater for these differentials.
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