Henkel has developed an auto body pre-treatment process in cooperation with Audi.
The patented two-step process enables surface treatment of multi-metal auto bodies with an aluminium content of up to 100%.
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In zinc phosphating, which was the conventional process, the volume of waste products increases as the aluminium content of mixed material bodies rises. These are costly to remove from the pre-treatment bath and the surfaces which are treated in them.
Due to the different surface properties of steel and aluminium body components, Henkel says the Bonderite two-step process pre-treats them in two stages.
This allows more aluminium to be used, while reducing the disadvantages of the current process maintains the supplier, that is, energy and chemical use decrease during the production process. Servicing expenses, the associated downtime, and waste volumes are also reduced.
Audi was the first company to integrate this method into its processes. The two-step process has now become the global standard for pre-treatment of auto bodies with a high aluminium content and is applied by leading automobile manufacturers around the world.
The two-step process is a sustainable surface treatment method which, says Henkel is:
- Resource-efficient thanks to reduced waste, energy and chemicals
- Enables pre-treatment of body shells with an aluminium content of up to 100%
“The Bonderite two-step metal pre-treatment process for multi-metal bodies provides superior corrosion performance while reducing investment- and processing costs,” said Henkel Adhesive Technologies Automotive Surface Treatment Europe, business director, Peter Kuhm.
