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Adhesion promoter bonds aluminum, polyamide in injection molding process
An insert molding process employing a co-polyamide adhesion promoter to bond aluminum tubing with fiberglass-reinforced polyamide 6 is being used by Mercedes Benz in several of its vehicles to derive weight savings.The aluminum tubing employed in the vehicles connects both A-pillars together and supports the entire dashboard—from the steering wheel to the glove compartment. These elements used to be welded or screwed together with metal connecting plates, a stable solution, but one that involves more weight.
PlasticsToday Staff
April 16, 2013
1 Min Read
.svg?width=850&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale "Adhesion promoter bonds aluminum, polyamide in injection molding process")
By contrast, Vestamelt X1333-P1, a co-polyamide from Evonik Industries (Essen, Germany), covers the aluminum tubing and joins the holding brackets (made of fiberglass-reinforced polyamide 6) of the individual components to the tubing by means of an injection molding process based on melt-bonding. When this adhesion promoter is used, component weight can be dramatically reduced by up to 20% compared to conventional solutions.
"Together with automobile manufacturers, we're developing even more applications worldwide for Vestamelt," says Martin Risthaus, the global business manager for Lightweight Design at Evonik. "Structural components or doors, for example, still have considerable weight-saving potential." Machine construction and the construction industry are also examples of segments in which the Vestamelt concept can be applied to hybrid machine parts.
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