Adhesive bonding technology in the 21st century – Synergy of technological and ecological potentials
The book ‘Adhesive Bonding Technology in the 21st Century – Synergy of Technological and Ecological Potentials’ by Prof. Dr Bernd Mayer and Prof. Dr Andreas Gro? of Fraunhofer IFAM in Germany, was commissioned by FEICA on its 50th year anniversary to provide an overview of the various aspects of the industry, today and in the future.
The publication is intended for a broad audience, and its objective is to provide a comprehensive view of the adhesive and sealant industry in terms of its applications, technologies, innovations and trends.
'Adhesive Bonding Technology in the 21st Century' sets the stage by presenting the key advantages adhesive bonding technology has compared to that of other joining technologies. For example:
Furthermore, adhesive bonding, is a joining technology that can serve numerous functions, such as force transmission and compensation for the dynamics of the different parts that are joined.
The many areas of application of adhesives and sealants in everyday life and in industry are explored too. Adhesives and sealants are used in various products (tiles, flooring, carpeting, etc.), in household items (medical plasters and paper bags), and in appliances (the clothes iron and the cooking oven with its heat-resistant adhesives and sealants). In industry, adhesives and sealants are widely used in aircraft, cars and trucks, and in rail vehicle manufacturing. In cars, there are adhesively bonded windscreens. For rail carriages, adhesives and sealants enable a streamlined design. In shipbuilding, adhesively bonded polycarbonate windows lessen the weight and thus decrease the carbon footprint. In wind turbine construction, the blade shells would be impossible to fabricate were it not for the adhesive bonding.????
The study also explains the economic importance of adhesives and sealants. For instance, the European adhesive and sealant industry makes a significant contribution to the European economy in terms of euros added (15 billion), number of employees in the industry (more than 45,000), and market share (the EU market is almost 35% of the global market of 50 billion euros). Indications are that the industry’s economic significance will further grow in the future. Concomitantly, the overall trend of adhesives and sealants is toward a more energy- and material-efficient production, resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
The core of the study takes a comprehensive look at adhesive bonding with respect to product safety law and circular economy potential. Here, the concern is first with adhesive bonding safety. In this regard, the importance of personnel qualified through proper training is highlighted. The second concern deals with the ecological potential of adhesives and sealants.
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Adhesive bonding technology is described as aligned with the goals of the circular economy in numerous ways, including, to name but a few: ? Lightweight construction (such as in shipbuilding), which can save manufacturing materials and lifetime energy use, is made possible by adhesives and sealants.
? Adhesive bonding technology enabling the repair of products.?In this way the preservation of resources is assured.
? Various approaches towards recycling can be pursued thanks to adhesively bonded joints, such as raw material separation in the case of cars.?
? Energy transition is promoted is by adhesive bonding technology. That is, the transition to alternative energy sources (such as solar cells and versatile solar panels) would not be feasible without this bonding.
? E-mobility (mobility by means of electricity) in transportation depends upon the use of adhesive bonding (for example. the hermetic sealing and mounting of fuel cells).
Prof. Dr Mayer and Prof. Dr Gro? conclude with a view towards the future and the circular economy. They foresee adhesively bonded products serving as long as possible in a life of safe use and allowing recycling at the end of product life.?
The adhesive bonding technology, in short, has become the joining technology of today and of the future.?
The book will be handed out to all registrants of the 2022 European Adhesive and Sealant Conference & EXPO, set in the Grand Elysée Hotel, Hamburg, Germany, from 14 to 16 September 2022. www.feica-conferences.com