Partner Content
Henkel's specially formulated structural adhesive represents a cutting-edge solution for the automotive industry
04 Sep 2024 | 6981 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
It's no secret that the dynamic automotive industry is shifting gears into a new era with various propulsion solutions on offer. With electric vehicles showing strong growth and improved performance, the flip side is that cars are getting heavier, driving an efficient need for consistent innovation in materials, design and ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
It's no secret that the dynamic automotive industry is shifting gears into a new era with various propulsion solutions on offer. With electric vehicles showing strong growth and improved performance, the flip side is that cars are getting heavier, driving an efficient need for consistent innovation in materials, design and engineering.
This is where specially curated structural adhesives play a critical role in light-weighting vehicle designs and processes. By bonding components into a unified structure, they enable vehicles to withstand a lot more stress and force enhancing both safety and structural integrity.
Technologies like High Damping Structural Adhesives, and cutting-edge bonding solutions, are beginning to redefine the standards of weld-bonded journey. This remarkable innovation from Henkel not only excels in bonding strength but also introduces unparalleled damping characteristics, pushing the boundaries of what adhesives can achieve.
Pioneering Vibration management
In the context of weld-bonded joinery, managing vibrations and noise is crucial for improving vehicle comfort and longevity. Henkel’s High Damping Structural Adhesive (HDSA) addresses this need by incorporating advanced damping characteristics that significantly reduce the transmission of vibrations and noise.
With the evolution of automotive design towards lighter and stronger vehicles, increasing rigidity through added mass is no longer feasible. Structural adhesives have emerged as a promising technology to enhance stiffness without the penalty of added weight.
The graph (above) illustrates a noticeable shift in the acceleration peak between the welded structure (gray) and the specimen with adhesive (orange). When resonating, this can make a big difference in the feeling of perceived stiffness. What is noteworthy, on application of HDSA the height of the acceleration peak is also lowered, demonstrating that both improved rigidity and damping can be achieved.
By converting vibrational energy into thermal energy, Henkel’s HDSA effectively attenuates vibrations before they can propagate through the vehicle structure. The adhesive not only provides a quieter and a smoother ride, but also has the capability to dampen vibrations thereby contributing to the longevity of welded joints. Ultimately, it reduces the risk of fatigue and failure over time, and improves the overall driving experience.
Seamless Integration into Manufacturing Processes
Henkel has designed the product with end user in mind that means HDSA can smoothly be integrated into the existing manufacturing set-up of the client. Its heat-curing nature and solvent-free formulation means that it can be applied using standard pumping equipment without extensive modifications to the adhesive dispensing equipment. This compatibility simplifies the transition for manufacturers looking to upgrade their adhesive solutions without disrupting production lines.
New Suzuki Swift benefits from Henkel's HDSA solution
For the first time in the new Suzuki Swift model, sound and vibration damping adhesive has been applied to the underbody of the car. This application of HDSA has helped to reduce the transmission of noise and vibration into the cabin, significantly enhancing ride quality and passenger comfort. The adhesive's effectiveness is demonstrated through vibration tests, where materials bonded with HDSA exhibit a shift to higher frequencies and a reduction in peak resonance compared to traditional welded joints. The results indicate improved rigidity and more effective attenuation of vibration energy.
Way forward
As the automotive industry continues to innovate and evolve, the significance of these advanced materials becomes ever more crucial. This game-changing adhesive exemplifies the potential to seamlessly balance bonding strength with exceptional damping properties, setting new benchmarks for performance and reliability. Henkel's commitment to pushing the boundaries of adhesive technology not only highlights the transformative potential of these technologies but also sets the stage for future innovations that will continue to drive progress in the automotive industry.
Industry Pioneer In Offering Sustainable Solutions
Henkel is leading in sustainability by advancing eco-friendly operations, responsible sourcing, and safe products. Henkel’s High Damping Structural Adhesive (HDSA) serves as a strong contributor in advancing sustainability in the automotive industry by supporting climate change initiatives. HDSA helps design Light Weight Vehicles with intelligent useof materials and helps reduce CO2 emissions during use phase. The product is also based on technology know how having raw materials with lower carbon-footprints. New Innovation in HDSA helps reduce Carbon emissions nearly 50%.Through these ongoing efforts, Henkel showcases its leadership in sustainable practices across industries, ensuring that both the company and its partners achieve environmental objectives while maintaining high performance standards.
Henkel's high-damping, heat-cured, non-solvent structural adhesive offers a seamless transition for manufacturers, as it can be applied with standard equipment without the need for costly modifications. This advanced solution not only simplifies the upgrade process but is also built on technology that uses raw materials with a lower carbon footprint, aligning with sustainability goals in the automotive industry.
"Henkel is an expert in driving innovation through strategic collaboration and thoughtful engineering, with a strong focus on sustainability and cutting edge technology". — Abhijit Baruah, Technical Manager, Henkel Adhesives
| Material Property | Conventional Joining | With Standard structural adhesive | New joining with HDSA |
| Spot Weld + Weldable Sealer |
Spot Weld+ Std. Structural Adhesive |
Spot Weld + HDSA | |
| Tensile Modulus, MPa | ~ 10 | ~ 1500 | ~ 500 |
| T-Peel Strength, N/mm | ~1 | ~6 | ~3 |
| Tan at 20°C | ~0.01 | ~0.01 | ~0.3 |
| Significant Outcomes | Air & Water Sealing Sub-optimal NVH Performance |
Joint Reinforcement Improved Tenacity of Joinery |
Joint Reinforcement NVH Improvement Steering Stability & Ride Comfort |