SikaPower® for Increased Crash Resistance
SikaPower® crash-resistant structural adhesives increase passenger safety and vehicle stiffness while saving on cost and reducing emissions.
Based on an epoxy hybrid, this heat-curing product combines toughness, flexibility, elongation, mechanical strength, and excellent adhesion, to decrease spot-welding and simplify the manufacturing process.
SikaPower® powerfully bonds composite material mixes such as metal/aluminium/plastic and can dramatically improve long-term durability in crash and structural bonding, hem-flange, sealing, and anti-flutter applications.
Reduced Carbon Emissions
An external analysis of the SikaPower® carbon footprint, as well as of the welding and bonding process, showed that it contributes to overall vehicle weight reductions as well as reducing the cost and energy required for vehicle manufacturing. The weight reduction also lead to lower fuel consumption over a vehicle’s lifetime, reducing the overall carbon footprint.
Results and Conclusions
A detailed comparison using modeling on a premium segment vehicle showed that fewer welding points and thinner metal sheets are possible when using SikaPower®. The result is the removal of 1,000 welding points and saving 30 kg in weight while maintaining stiffness and crash performance. As well as using less energy during production, the lower weight led to a reduction in CO₂ emissions during the use phase.
The net reduction when using SikaPower® amounted to 330 kg CO₂ per vehicle.