Innovative Sealing Technology Drives Performance in Vehicle Assembly and Repair
Bostik Findley, Inc., Middleton, Mass., offers environmentally friendly, solvent-free adhesives and sealants for the transportation and transit vehicle assembly and repair industries. A cornerstone of the global adhesives company’s ongoing developments is the innovative bonding and sealing technology known as Silyl Modified Polymers (SMP).
SMP Polymer Sealants and Adhesives
Advanced SMP polymer sealants and adhesives are solvent- and isocyanate-free products specially engineered for adhesion on a wide range of substrate materials used to fabricate and repair truck trailers and containers, buses, recreational vehicles (RVs), train cars, and light-rail vehicles.SMP products offer the versatility to customize viscosity and green strength for various end-use applications. Additionally, SMP polymer adhesives and sealants eliminate or minimize pretreatment of substrates, while ensuring optimal elongation and tensile-strength properties for durable, yet flexible, tear-resistant bonds. Moisture-curing SMP systems also provide a very fast skin time ranging from 15 to 45 minutes.
More than two dozen Bostik Findley products have SMP technology, essentially combining the strength of polyurethanes with the weathering resistance of silicones. An alternative to conventional bonding systems, SMP technology exceeds many of the industry’s current performance benchmarks. SMP adhesives and sealants are reported to be unsurpassed for lasting bond durability, modulus of elasticity, and high-heat and low-temperature resistance. They are non-yellowing when subjected to extended UV-light exposure.
Popular SMP adhesives and sealants for the transportation market are available as part of the company’s Simson® Industrial Special Range (ISR) line of products.
As examples, the Simson ISR line offers a primerless SMP product that does not require clamping for critical sidewall bonding applications found in bus and train-car assembly. Likewise, an ISR adhesive with SMP polymers has been designed as a primerless technology that produces natural good adhesion on fritted windshield surfaces. Lastly, an ISR sprayable seam-sealer with solvent-free SMP technology is available for repair and aftermarket specialists.
Non-Sag, One-Component Urethane Sealant
Beyond its SMP expertise, Bostik Findley also incorporates other specialty polymer formulations for additional solvent-free adhesives and sealants. One-component Bostik® LoVOC™ Seal is a very economical, industrial-grade urethane sealant specially designed to meet the rigorous demands of the transportation industry.LoVOC Seal is a moisture-curing formulation whose non-sag properties surpass the performance of conventional sealants in a range of seam-sealing and gap-filling applications. It offers outstanding adhesion to aluminum, wood, FRP and other substrates.
Recommended for joint and weld-line sealing applications that require limited low-sealant shrinkage upon cure, Bostik LoVOC Seal is an environmentally friendly product. It is free of xylene, toluene, MEK or similar solvents. Volatile organic compound (VOC) content is minimal (<70 g/liter), and hazardous air pollutants content (HAP) is extremely low (<6 g/liter). Plus, LoVOC Seal meets the newest and most stringent California air-quality emissions standards.
Non-Isocyanate, Moisture-Curing Adhesive
An additional Bostik Findley offering for the transportation/transit market is Bostik® 2100SPS high-performance sealant. Engineered with innovative polymers, one-part 2100SPS is a VOC-free, non-isocyanate system that provides superior adhesion to both porous and non-porous surfaces. Moisture-curing Bostik 2100SPS elastomeric sealant represents the latest generation of high-performance sealants specially made for the transportation market sector.A modified urethane technology, economical-to-use 2100 SPS is non-bubbling and provides long-lasting adhesion with difficult-to-bond synthetic substrates such as plastic, fiberglass, ABS, PVC and vinyl. It also features optimal aesthetic characteristics. Meeting many OEM standards for fit, finish and appearance, white-toned Bostik 2100SPS can be painted easily, and it will not, over time, discolor or yellow in normal applications.
Fast-curing Bostik 2100SPS is a 100-percent solids, multi-use product suitable for maintenance and repair jobs in addition to OEM manufacturing. It is ideal for exterior joint-, gap- and seam-sealing of preassembled transit vehicles. It is recommended for truck trailers and containers, buses, recreation vehicles (RVs), trains and light-rail cars, as well as for van conversion.
Bostik Findley, Inc., is a unit of TotalFinaElf, a multinational company with extensive worldwide interests in oil exploration, petroleum refining and the formulation of specialty chemicals. Bostik Findley is among the world’s largest adhesives and sealants manufacturers, with production facilities and sales operations in 36 nations across six continents. Bostik Findley produces and supplies customized adhesives, sealants and coatings for automotive and aircraft interiors, MRO applications, the marine and transportation markets, industrial and product manufacturing, packaging, disposable nonwovens, residential and commercial building projects as well as comprehensive products for the tile and flooring industry.