Leer® Division, Truck Accessories Group is joining ABS and high-impact Telene™ thermoplastic panels using an advanced polyurethane adhesive.
To overcome the problem, Leer began working with Vantico chemists to find a medium-viscosity, slump-resistant adhesive that would allow Leer to produce tonneaus at a higher volume and lower labor cost than traditional open molding of fiberglass-reinforced plastic components. The Arathane AW 8680/HW 8685 polyurethane that was ultimately selected for the application exhibits a 10-minute gel time that is sufficient for part assembly and a fast room-temperature cure that supports increased productivity. The adhesive is also formulated specifically for bonding thermoplastics and, once cured, exhibits an elongation of 250% to produce bond lines that will retain their strength as the tonneau cover flexes during use.