At Chemical Concepts, we love hearing about how our products are being used in the working world. Polaris released a video detailing their process of their powersports lines using LORD structural adhesive technology, which we consistently stock. In their video, Polaris details the benefits of structural adhesive bonding over traditional bonding techniques across a wide range of fields and applications.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqr-CBTSRuI

Structural adhesive bonding techniques have surpassed traditional bonding methods for four simple reasons:

• Stronger than welding
• Ability to bond dissimilar materials
• Lightweight
• Allows flexibility on materials used

Structural adhesive bonding produces a stronger joint than any other bonding technique. In fact, the joints bonded with structural adhesive are proven to be stronger than the material being used to create the structure.

For Polaris, structural adhesives have been the key to ultra-lightweight systems in the powersports market. Because the adhesives can be used to bond dissimilar materials, it can create joints between different alloys and even different metals entirely; this opens the door to creating specific parts out of newer materials such as carbon fiber, and still being able to bond them with traditional steel or aluminum parts.

Of course, structural adhesives have been implemented in different areas of technology for years now; aerospace engineering, for example, has been manufacturing lightweight parts held together by structural adhesives since the mid 90’s; if you’ve flown on a commercial airline within the last 15 years, you’ve placed your life in the hands of structural adhesive technology.

While structural adhesive bonding does not necessarily reduce production costs, it significantly improves the system being created; a system fabricated using structural bonding is measurably more robust for a longer amount of time than a system fabricated using welding or other traditional bonding techniques.

Bulk adhesive dispensing is also smoother and simpler than welding, and creates a sturdier joint. Rather than applying dots of welding, creating weak and strong patches in the system, a continuous line of adhesive eliminates weak spots and creates a stronger overall system. This improves safety ratings of commercial products as well as makes them easier to produce in bulk.

Polaris brought the world of structural adhesive bonding to powersports first, making them the pioneers in the industry. However, they are also applying the same technology to their future product prototypes, such as their snowmobiles and other off-roading vehicles. Some car manufacturers have even started using structural adhesives in some of their on-road markets, such as Jeep, BMW, Audi, and of course Ferrari in their supercar lineup. With an eye on the future, structural adhesive bonding will also be used in military vehicles!

LORD has created these products in the hope of reinventing automobile, aerospace, and other manufacturing industries. Now, we at Chemical Concepts want to bring those products to you. To browse our full line of structural adhesives, click here. Need help finding what you’re looking for? Our representatives are here to help! Give us a call, toll-free, at 1-800-220-1966 or send us an email at sales@chemical-concepts.com. We look forward to hearing from you!