OREANDA-NEWS. “Because of the advantages they offer in lightweight construction, liquid-applied sound deadeners are definitely on an upward climb. And our range of Teroson rubber, renewable thermoset, and acrylic systems has been certified by many renowned automobile manufacturers,” says Thorsten Kraft, Head of Global Project LASD at Henkel Adhesive Technologies. The success of our innovative LASD technology is due primarily to the process reliability and application accuracy achievable with spray compounds compared to classic piecemeal bituminous matting. This maximizes acoustic attenuation potential, while the low weight contributes to reducing fuel consumption and thus vehicle emissions (CO2).”

In addition, the Teroson LASD compounds from Henkel also impress with their greater application flexibility and enhanced process stability. Their outstanding acoustic performance and low abrasiveness compared to competitor products bring additional total-cost advantages, not least due to reduced wear in pumping, metering and spray equipment.

Successful joint project with BMW

Henkel also supports its customers through its network of local LASD technology centers for qualifying and optimizing the most suitable materials and process systems for each application. Just such a project was implemented in close cooperation with the BMW Group and ABB ?(Robotics) at the Henkel Adhesives LASD Competence Center in Heidelberg to ascertain the suitability of Teroson AL 7155, a water-based acrylic sound deadener, for the new BMW 3 series. With the project team having successfully validated the basic functionality of the technology, the application is now to be taken through to series production at a BMW pilot application line in Munich.

This innovative Henkel product has satisfied the prerequisites for series approval specified by the BMW Group. It facilitates a considerable reduction in weight of more than 20 percent compared to melting sheets offering similar acoustic performance, thus making it a significantly more sustainable choice. The fact that the process is readily implementable while also being highly stable is also an enormous advantage when it comes to upscaling for full industrial production. The exceptional acoustic performance of the LASD system also meets the highest quality demands.

“Right from the start, the close, open and transparent mode of collaboration within the team also proved to be enormously valuable,” recalls Kraft. “This enabled us to satisfy many of the high requirements placed on the technology early on in the project. We intend to continue this beneficial alliance in the hope that the success of this LASD application can be transferred to further vehicle models.”

All Teroson LASD products for the automobile industry are specifically approved for automated application techniques and can be sprayed on in thicknesses of over 5 mm, even overhead, without dripping or slipping. The compounds follow a defined curing curve aligned to the specific customer process and fulfill the high demands relating to contour accuracy and surface evenness. Spray application by robots is more precise, faster and cleaner than the manual insertion of conventional bitumen mats. The logistical cost is significantly decreased, while the degree of automation is substantially increased. Above all, LASD products offer considerable potential for weight reduction.