An epoxy adhesive is being used to securely bond aluminum profiles to metal railcar door frames being built for BR 423 Siemens Bombardier trains that run on suburban railway systems throughout Germany.

To securely bond aluminum profiles to metal railcar door frames being built for BR 423 Siemens Bombardier trains that run on suburban railway systems throughout Germany, Araldite 2015 epoxy from Vantico, Los Angeles, is proving to be the ideal adhesive. The high-performance epoxy features a combination of flexibility and impact strength, and the ability to withstand exposure to a variety of weather extremes.

Schlosser Metallbau GmbH, Nurnberg, Germany, manufacturer of the railcar doors, specializes in the development, production and assembly of metal parts used on railway carriages. According to engineers on the project, the Araldite 2015 adhesive is easy to handle and provides the durability required for the demanding transportation application.

The Vantico epoxy is a sag-resistant, gap-filling paste that is easy to apply on vertical surfaces up to a 0.39-in (10-mm) thickness. Supplied in convenient, waste-free, 400-ml dual-barrel cartridges, the adhesive has a 35-minute gel time and attains handling strength after four hours at room temperature. Once cured, the epoxy produces joints with high lap shear strength of 3,200 psi at room temperature and peel strength of 29 pli. Maximum service temperature is 176 degrees F (80 degrees C). In addition to providing outstanding bond strength on metal substrates, the adhesive is well suited for use on sheet molding compounds (SMC) and fiberglass-reinforced plastics (FRP).

To assemble railcar doors, technicians begin by degreasing surfaces with acetone and then applying a primer. Next, mixed Araldite 2015 is applied to the chromated aluminum-frame profiles and is injected through boreholes to ensure complete coverage of the components being joined. Profiles are then clamped in place on the door and allowed to cure at room temperature for eight hours.

Recognized as a world leader in adhesives technology, Vantico manufactures high-performance Araldite-brand structural epoxy, polyurethane and methacrylate adhesives, pastes and laminating systems, as well as lightweight syntactics used for bonding and assembly of transportation and industrial components. The Araldite 2000 product family includes 15 different adhesives that provide for easy handling and reliable bonding performance in repair, maintenance and assembly applications.

For more information:

For more information about Araldite 2015 adhesive, contact Maria Pate, Vantico A&T US Inc., 5121 San Fernando Rd. West, Los Angeles, CA 90039; 818-247-6210; e-mail adhesives.group@vantico.com; or visit http://www.adhesives.vantico.com.