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A Sticky Problem: Automotive Adhesive Failure |
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The problem: A major automotive manufacturer noted that an adhesive sealant used on mini-van windows delaminated after exposure to moisture. The problem led the automotive manufacturer to quarantine 10, 000 vehicles and filed a large claim against the adhesive supplier, asserting that the adhesive was improperly formulated. The adhesive manufacturer contacted TechDirect to help them understand the cause of the failure.
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The approach: TechDirect scientists modified ASTM methods for measuring physical properties and developed simple moisture sensitivity experiments that modeled typical end use conditions, simulating the behavior of the adhesive under controlled conditions. Chemical analyses of standard and suspect adhesives were completed by FT-IR and GC-MS. |
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The results: While the chemistry of the system met specifications, the suspect adhesive performed poorly in physical properties tests, behaving like an under-cured system. Using an intentionally undercured adhesive, TechDirect scientists simulated field conditions and duplicated the performance problem found in the field, clearly demonstrating that the adhesive was improperly cured rather than improperly formulated.
A later review of the automotive manufacturer’s production schedule used at the time of the problem revealed that an operating engineer made a unilateral decision to reduce bake temperature and bake time from those specified by the adhesive manufacturer, thereby producing an undercured adhesive. After TechDirect established the root cause of the problem, the claim against the adhesive supplier was dropped and the auto manufacturer repaired the affected vehicles for release.
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For further information on ICI TechDirect's chromatography services so that you can create your own success story, click here. |
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For further information, contact C. Michael Neag:
Voice: 440-826-5318
~ Fax: 440-826-5233
Strongsville Research Center (SRC)
16651 Sprague Road
Strongsville, Ohio 44136
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