Structural solutions for lightweight materials

Lighter weight materials require more specialist adhesives to bond them together. Bonding also uses less energy than welding. The 3M range of Automotive Adhesives have a strong track record of composite bonding across structural, semi-structural and non structural applications.

Easy Application of products with great gap fill and non sag properties are combined with exceptional durability and structural performance to facilitate highly efficient composite structures.

3M's high performance structural adhesive product have high fracture toughness, multilateral strength and class leading impact resistance properties. The extensive range of composite bonding adhesives also delivers excellent creep resistance properties, no readthough bonding and corrosion resistance.

Typical composites bonded by 3M structural adhesives include:

• Themosetting Composites
• Thermoplastic Composites
• Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)
• Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP)
• "Pre-Preg"
• Glass Mat Thermoplastic (GMT)
• Sheet Mouldng Compound (SMC)
• Metal Matrix Composites (MMC)
• Wood
• Advanced Aerospace style Composites

In many cases 3M adhesives have been used to increase performance over traditional joining methods. 3M also offers other adhesives which are used in a number of applications in vehicle construction.

to find out more about composite Bonding solutions from 3M.

Interested in Lighter Weight Vehicle Manufacturing? Visit the Low Carbon Generation Conference website.

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