Automotive Adhesives, Sealants And Coatings 2008

In recent years a series of environmental and end-of-life regulations in the automotive sector has triggered significant changes in vehicle design and manufacture on a global scale. The call for improved fuel efficiency and safety, increased passenger comfort, and a reduction in the emission of pollutants has seen the introduction of new materials and manufacturing techniques to develop lighter, more efficient vehicles. To these requirements has been added the need to re-design vehicles with disassembly, materials re-use and recovery in mind. These trends have had a big impact on the adhesives, sealants and coatings markets.

Adhesives, sealants and coatings are found in just about every area of a car. For example structural and semi-structural adhesives (such as epoxies and polyurethanes) and sound deadening materials are now used between layers of body shell in favour of traditional mechanical fasteners, thereby reducing weight and corrosion. Adhesives also find widespread use in joining plastics and composites, both to themselves and to metals. Similarly windscreens are now bonded-in structural components to improve vehicle stiffness and crash protection.

However all of these elastomeric/resinous materials are sources of odour and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are therefore subject to EU REACh legislation. Today much is being done to replace low-solids solvent-based adhesives, sealants and coatings with a new generation of waterborne or hot melt formulations. These do not release VOCs on curing but still retain the aesthetic and protective qualities that the industry demands.

With these green challenges in mind, Smithers Rapra brought together the automotive supply chain to discuss the latest research and development in this fast moving area and discover how today's automotive manufacturer can satisfy the conflicting demands of the consumer and the regulator.