Hefei, China – Covestro has introduced several new polyurethane-based adhesives with applications in the automotive and footwear industries. They were developed at the company’s Asia-Pacific Innovation Centre in Shanghai. The company said it now locally produces about three-quarters of its adhesives and coatings products for the Asia-Pacific region.
Dispercoll U for the footwear sector is a waterborne PU adhesive specifically engineered for shoe materials that pose bonding challenges, and was developed to support the trends towards lightweight and customised athletic shoes. The company said it can enhance manufacturing efficiency while supporting energy savings and carbon reduction.
It has good initial tack performance, and can bond lightweight, temperature-sensitive substrates and accommodate innovative shoe designs. This, Covestro said, gives smoother handling and increased productivity. The thermal activation temperature can be reduced from 55°C to 35°C, giving lower energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions.
The second footwear product, Dispercoll U Plus, is another waterborne adhesive, and was developed in response to the footwear sector’s growing interest in one-component products to simplify the bonding process. The adhesive is suitable for automated bonding processes, and streamlines manufacturing. Its hydrolysis resistance and bonding strength, Covestro said, reduces the risk of debonding in high-performance athletic shoes, extending their lifespan.
For the automotive sector, a Dispercoll U product has also been launched for automotive interior lamination, with enhanced heat resistance. Good initial bonding strength and heat resistance make it suitable for bonding complex 3D trim parts under high tensile strength. Applications include armrests and large curved seat back covers.
Finally, the Dispercoll U Plus product for automotive has improved heat and climate resistance, addressing the challenges of ageing in automotive interiors as a result of extreme heat. It also ensures long-term stability in adhesive bonding, the company said, and gives better stability on storage.
The new products were introduced at the 27th China Adhesive and Tape Annual Conference, held in Hefei in early September.
