Düsseldorf, Germany – A new two-component polyurethane foam gasket system from Henkel was designed to improve efficiency in automotive door module production. These modules, made from galvanised stamped sheet metal or glass-fibre reinforced plastic, carry electronic and mechanical units for safety, infotainment, lighting and air conditioning technology.
The module is installed in car doors to protect the car’s interior from the weather outside. They also need to be sealed against water and dust, and to prevent problems from the vibrations arising during driving.
Henkel has developed a new foam gasket system for these applications. The two-component PU sealing foam, Sonderhoff Fermapor K31-A-5055-1-G / K31-B-4, was designed to provide the mechanical properties demanded by OEMS and suppliers. It is both temperature- and hydrolysis-stable.
The company said the product offers a relatively long pot life combined with fast curing of the foam gasket. This, it said, is crucial for the fully automated production of door modules, as it remains workable after being dispensed until the foaming begins, but then cures sufficiently quickly for rapid part processing.
This also saves costs, it said, with no need for intermediate storing, and only short curing bands required for curing the seal. Its specific density is about 5% lower than existing systems, giving lower material consumption.
The low installation forces are a further advantage, Henkel said, when installing the door module in the door, and when installing the sealed components for units such as loudspeakers and locking systems. When installed, the foam seals are pressed evenly over their entire contour, with the gasket compensating for any dimensional tolerances, giving a consistently high level of tightness.
