In response to regulatory change requirements and industry demand for safer assembly solutions, Henkel has exchanged certain raw materials in selected products in its LOCTITE® range of instant adhesives to help manufacturers comply with new regulatory classification requirements. Spearheaded by the introduction of the new ultra-performance cyanoacrylate adhesive, LOCTITE 402, this initiative combines raw materials that comply with the latest regulatory requirements and the high quality and reliability expected from the LOCTITE brand.
Formulated to not compromise the key properties of the range, the adhesives offer fast fixture times, high bond strength, material versatility, and temperature resistance. This has created a range of instant adhesives and accelerators that will allow industry to use the technology’s potential to simplify design, improve reliability, and increase productivity, as well as enhance occupational safety through a reduction of hazardous substances.
New and Upgraded Instant Adhesives
Several instant adhesive ingredients have come under greater regulatory scrutiny in select regions of the world. Two of these are hydroquinone (HQ) and 2.2’-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) — also known as MMBP. The primary role of these ingredients is to ensure the adhesive remains liquid in the bottle for the duration of its shelf life.
Although these were present in very small amounts in the original formulations, responding to regulatory change requirements and industry demand, Henkel developed a novel stabilizer package that allows HQ and MMBP to be removed from the formulas for the most widely used products in its LOCTITE Instant Adhesive range.
Initially, six instant adhesives have been formulated without HQ and MMBP, with additional product upgrades planned in the near future. Collectively, they allow for the rapid bonding of a wide variety of materials including metals, plastics, elastomers, wood, paper, leather, and fabric. All are suitable for manual application or automated and robotic dispensing.
Instant adhesives upgraded with new raw materials and uncompromised performance. Image courtesy of Henkel.
LOCTITE 402 is a new addition to Henkel’s Instant Adhesive portfolio. According to Henkel, this fast-setting instant adhesive provides reliable performance up to 135 °C. The universal instant bonder LOCTITE 401 is a medium-viscosity product that provides high shear strength on a wide range of materials. LOCTITE 406 is a low-viscosity formulation that is suitable for small bond line gaps and close-fitting assemblies.
LOCTITE 454 is designed for applications calling for a non-drip instant adhesive for use on porous or vertical surfaces. For gap-filling on various materials, the range includes LOCTITE 3090 and LOCTITE 3092, unique two-part instant adhesives. Completing the offering is LOCTITE 495, a general-purpose adhesive for the fast bonding of a wide range of materials.
Upgraded Accelerators
Complementing the upgraded adhesives are upgraded accelerators used to achieve optimal performance in specific situations such as low humidity environments or when bonding to acidic substrates. They no longer contain certain actively added chemicals that have been subject to recent safety reclassification while still offering the same performance.
Now available in the LOCTITE Instant Component Bonding range are upgraded LOCTITE SF7452 and LOCTITE SF7455, accelerators that can be pre- or post-applied to increase cure speed of instant adhesives.
These across-the-range upgrades mean customers can continue to benefit from the performance advantages of LOCTITE adhesive technology while improving workplace safety by complying with recent safety reclassification through a reduction of hazardous substances.
IoT Solution to Protect Critical Assets
Henkel is adding support to manufacturers with an Industrial Internet-of-Things (IIoT) solution that contributes to the reliability of critical assets. Once installed, LOCTITE Pulse sensors continuously collect data and provide valuable insights into asset health.
The first solution, LOCTITE Pulse Smart Flange Leak Detection, can detect early leakages and may be able to predict serious incidents. A smart app can monitor critical assets with notifications sent when irregularities are detected. This allows operators to act in a timely manner, which can significantly decrease the risks of growing leaks to both operations and the environment, thus contributing to an operation’s sustainability. Major customers in the oil and gas and chemical industries have installed the solution in their plants and are benefiting from intelligent monitoring.
Instant adhesives upgraded with new raw materials and uncompromised performance. Image courtesy of Henkel.
H&R Group is a leading German manufacturer of mineral oil specialties. One of the challenges it faced was the numerous critical flanges to be monitored during production. Since the majority of these critical flanges are located under insulation or in difficult-to-access areas, visual inspection required significant effort and was often carried out at insufficient intervals and in inadequate quality. With the help of LOCTITE Pulse Smart Flange, critical flanges are now continuously monitored, enabling the detection of possible leaks at an early stage. This avoids costly repairs and unplanned downtime, while also providing an additional level of safety.
The LOCTITE Pulse solutions are installed in several of Henkel’s plants and are showcased at the company’s Persil and Pritt production as well as in its Henkel Adhesive Inspiration Center Düsseldorf. In the inspiration center, customers can attend a demonstration of the sensor technology and the Loctite Pulse app.
Learn more at www.henkel.com.
