Flame-retardant adhesive speeds up aircraft production
A two-component epoxy resin from Delo, the Delo-Duopox AB8162, is designed for the aerospace industry.
It has a fast build-up strength and is particularly suitable for bonding lightweight structural joints in aircraft interiors, says the company.
This multi-purpose adhesive can be used for coating or bonding insert fasteners. It is beige-yellow in colour, making it particularly suitable for use in honeycomb sandwich panels traditionally found in aircraft.
The adhesive cures at room temperature and has been optimised for temperature-accelerated curing when needed. At a temperature of 60 degrees C, 15 minutes of curing time is sufficient to achieve functional strength, helping to significantly speed up the production process, advises Delo.
The Delo-Duopox AB8162 ensures consistently high strength, even under the influence of both temperature and aging, claims Delo, citing storage tests of 500 hours at 70 degrees C. It also features excellent resistance to hydraulic fluids that are used in aviation, like Skydrol, says the company.
Materials used in aircraft interiors must meet fire protection requirements. Delo-Duopox AB8162 complies with flame, smoke and toxicity retardant (FST) tests in accordance with CS/FAR Part 25 25.853 (a)(1)(ii) and those of the Airbus standard ABD0031. The FST tests are performed using a rod-shaped sample of pure adhesive. The adhesive is held over a Bunsen burner flame for 12 seconds. After this time, the adhesive must extinguish itself. Additionally, it is required to achieve low flue gas density and a low toxicity level.
Delo-Duopox AB8162 is a CMR-free product (non-carcinogenic/non-mutagenic/non-reprotoxic).
The dispensing system allows the adhesive to be processed just like a one-component product. Its thixotropic properties ensure flow. When the shear stress stops at the end of the dispensing process, viscosity begins to increase, preventing the adhesive from flowing away.
Delo manufactures industrial adhesives used within the automotive, aviation, optoelectronics and industrial electronics industries. It is headquartered in Windach, Germany, and has subsidiaries in the USA, China, Singapore and Japan.
