Automotive Adhesives and Sealants
In automotive applications, adhesives and sealants allow the manufacturer to eliminate rivets, screws, welds and clinches. This provides greater design freedom and increases the quality of the vehicle.
The global automotive adhesives and sealants market is growing mainly due to surging population and improving safety standards of vehicles. The growth in this market is also fueled by the increasing demand for lightweight vehicles.
Lightweighting
The automotive industry is undergoing major changes owing to stringent emission regulations, prompting greater use of materials light in weight for increased fuel economy. Adhesives are helping the industry achieve this goal by providing a lightweight method of bonding plastic and composite parts. These adhesives can replace mechanical fasteners and have many benefits, including a better stress distribution, lower vehicle weight, and improved component performance.
Structural adhesives are a favorite among automobile professionals because they offer a simple way to link different types of material together (such as composite to metal, where welding isn’t possible). This keeps cars from accumulating excessive weight and increases their performance.
Moreover, automotive manufacturers are increasingly using adhesives to enhance the rigidity and stiffness of vehicle components. This will lead to a better ride experience and improve safety for passengers. In addition to increasing the strength of vehicle parts, automotive adhesives also reduce noise and vibration. This will increase passenger comfort and boost vehicle sales.
The global market for automotive adhesives is segmented by Resins, Application, Vehicle, and Geography. The global market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. Emerging nations such as China and India are expected to provide growth opportunities for the market due to low manufacturing and labor costs. Besides, the market is expected to witness growth in the APAC region as the demand for electric vehicles is increasing significantly in this region.
Energy efficiency
Automotive adhesives and sealants help reduce energy consumption by limiting the need for mechanical fasteners. This allows manufacturers to use less material, which results in a lighter vehicle. Adhesives also allow for a more streamlined assembly process, as there is no need to drill holes or measure torque. This improves safety and performance and allows for a greater variety of composite materials to be used.
Additionally, mastics and adhesives help absorb vibrations and noise in the cabin. This increases passenger comfort and improves the overall driving experience. They are often formulated with a variety of ingredients that work together to provide automotive adhesives and sealants different functions such as waterproofing and UV protection. This is important when selecting a product because it helps ensure that the final result meets your needs.
While the majority of automotive adhesives and sealants currently utilized are synthetic, prominent industry players are rapidly formulating innovative products with bio-based and renewable feedstock to promote sustainability and enhanced product qualities. This is especially the case in emerging nations, where stringent emissive regulations are prompting greater usage of lightweight bonding materials to increase fuel efficiency.
Durability
Automobile manufacturers worldwide are shifting to lightweight vehicles that maximize speed and power. This shift necessitates the use of advanced bonding materials that have strong impact and corrosion resistance. Structural adhesives have replaced steel fasteners for a variety of applications including wiring harnesses, exterior trim, and windshields. These adhesives also function as sound deadeners, reducing engine noise and vibrations to improve passenger comfort. Stringent environmental regulations are also encouraging automobile makers to produce more efficient electric vehicles, which will boost demand for high-performance automotive adhesives.
The global automotive adhesives and sealants market is partially consolidated, with some large players holding a significant share of the market. These companies include 3M, Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Sika, ITW Performance Polymers, Avery Dennison, and Jowat SE. In addition, other small and medium-sized companies are striving to increase their market shares through product development and strategic alliances.
Automotive adhesives are produced from a wide range of resins, including epoxy, acrylic, polyurethane, and methyl methacrylate (MMA). They can be chemically cured by heating (epoxies), thermally cured using heat and moisture condensation (polyurethanes), or accelerated with a boosting agent for faster curing rates (MMAs). These products are rated by their modulus of hardness and elongation-flexibility. They can also be classified by their application based on the areas of the assembly process they are used in: body shop, paint shop, and trim shop.
Safety
Automotive adhesives and sealants are used in a wide range of applications on the inside and outside of motor vehicles. They provide noise reduction, structural sturdiness, and a clean and streamlined finish. They also allow for the use of a wide variety of composite materials that would otherwise be impractical to join with mechanical fasteners. These factors are expected to drive the automotive adhesives and sealants market throughout the forecast period. However, fluctuating raw material prices could decelerate industry growth.
One of the key goals of many high-performance car manufacturers is to keep the weight of their vehicles as low as possible. This is often achieved by using lightweight composite materials. These materials cannot be welded, which requires the use of mechanical fasteners. This can add to the weight of a vehicle, is unsightly and runs the risk of the fasteners vibrating loose. This is why structural adhesives are a favorite among automotive industry professionals.
They make it easy to link various types of materials together (such as composite to metal where welding would not be suitable). These automotive adhesives and sealants adhesives can also be cured at a lower temperature, making them ideal for use in harsh environments. They can also be formulated with a range of resins, including epoxy, acrylics, polyurethanes, and silicones. In addition to these, methyl methacrylate (MMA) resins hold a significant share of the market and are becoming increasingly popular due to their unique properties.