Simplifies adhesive selection

Built around the message 'Your Challenge. Bonded.', Component Bonding organises Henkel’s adhesive and surface preparation solutions according to what customers need the bond to do. The framework is designed to make the selection process clearer by shifting the initial conversation away from adhesive chemistry and towards practical application and performance requirements.

Selecting an appropriate adhesive can depend on several factors, including substrate compatibility, surface preparation, mechanical loads, environmental conditions and production requirements. As assemblies increasingly incorporate lightweight materials, recycled materials, composites, low-surface-energy plastics and mixed-material combinations, making an informed product selection can become more complex.

Component Bonding brings together more than 1300 sub-component adhesive solutions available from Henkel across general manufacturing, maintenance, repair and operations, and vehicle repair and maintenance. The solutions are organised into four categories: FAST, STRONG, ELASTIC and SPECIAL.

FAST solutions support applications in which assembly speed, precision and productivity are priorities. These include instant fixing, small-part bonding and applications requiring clean, compact bond lines.

STRONG solutions are designed for rigid, structural and load-bearing assemblies that require high strength, durability and long-term performance. Typical applications include metal assemblies, magnet bonding and other structural joints.

ELASTIC solutions are intended for assemblies exposed to vibration, movement, expansion or contraction. Applications include sealing, gap filling, panel bonding, glazing and the flexible joining of dissimilar materials.

SPECIAL solutions address requirements that extend beyond more conventional assembly challenges. These include difficult-to-bond plastics, UV-curing glass applications, thermal management, potting and encapsulation, and flame-retardant bonding systems.

Surface preparation also forms an integral part of the Component Bonding approach. Effective cleaning removes contaminants that may affect adhesive performance, while primers and adhesion promoters can support adhesion on challenging substrates where required. This allows customers to consider the complete bonding process rather than treating cleaning, preparation and adhesive application as separate stages.

The framework is supported by the Component Bonding Compass, which provides an overview of potential solutions within the FAST, STRONG, ELASTIC and SPECIAL categories. Customers can refine their selection according to factors such as substrate compatibility, gap-filling requirements, fixture time, operating temperature, viscosity and mechanical performance.

Kevin Mappin, senior business development manager, WE North at Henkel, said: "The growing use of lightweight materials, composites and mixed-material assemblies is creating new possibilities for product design, but it can also make joining decisions more complex.

"Component Bonding gives engineers, maintenance professionals, vehicle repair specialists and distributors a clearer way to navigate Henkel’s adhesive and surface preparation technologies. Instead of beginning with a specific chemistry or product, customers can start with the performance they need from the bond.

“Whether the priority is speed, structural strength, flexibility or a solution for a highly specialised application, the Component Bonding framework provides a more intuitive route through the portfolio. Henkel’s technical experts can then help customers assess and validate technologies for their substrates, processes and operating conditions.”

Component Bonding technologies are already supporting demanding applications across manufacturing, transportation and construction. These include bonding coated steel guide rails to anodised aluminium, joining an 11.5-metre aluminium panel to a glass-reinforced plastic sandwich sidewall and connecting stone elements with steel reinforcement during the construction of the Sagrada Família’s central towers.

By combining its adhesive portfolio with surface preparation technologies and technical expertise, Henkel can support customers through product selection, application assessment and validation.

To learn more, visit the LOCTITE 472 and LOCTITE SF 772 pages.