Kisling epoxy adhesive improves carbon fiber bonding performance in automotive applications

Kisling’s 2K-Epoxy adhesive ergo 7440 applied to the new Ferrari F488 Pista Spider. Photo Credit: Kisling

Swiss-based adhesives manufacturer, Kisling (Wetzikon), has reportedly added 2K-Epoxy ergo 7440 to its ergo product structural portfolio. The new structural adhesive product is said to improve the bonding performance of carbon fiber parts for a variety of applications in the automotive industry. Due to several of its advantageous features, Kisling says, it has aided the Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari in solving a current adhesive issue for a new automobile development.

For example, Kisling contends that ergo 7440 provides almost invisible composite bonding by removing the bond-line read-through (BLRT) — a visible distortion of the substrate over a cured adhesive bond-line — due to low shrinkage capabilities. An almost-invisible glue line was additionally accomplished by the black coloring of the epoxy adhesive.

This product is also said to attain high temperature resistance of 180 °C. This performance criteria was proven by a 2,000-hour test. As can be seen from the graphic below, the Kisling ergo 7440 adhesive provides exceptionally high bonding strength after 2,000 hours of testing at 200 °C.

Photo Credit: Kisling

Further, a defined bonding gap is ensured via additives incorporated into the epoxy adhesive, avoiding contact corrosion in metal-carbon connections, and a 40-minute process time ensures that there is enough time for the bonding process, even with high ambient temperatures during the warmer months. Additionally, says Kisling, the ergo 7440 delivers a fast build-up of handling strength after 3.5 hours for quick turnaround during production.