UV stable electrocoats for corrosion protection and structural bonding

 
The coating process in the industry segment of mobile machinery is usually done after welding the framework. In a research project a new concept was investigated. First smaller pieces of the framework are coated with a coloured single layer electrocoat.Then the parts are connected by structural bonding on the coating layer. To realize this new technology, the coating system has to perform as effective anti-corrosive system, provide a sufficient outdoor weather resistance in different color shades and must have sufficient adhesion strength for bonding. The project showed that in general the requirements can be met by the investigated pretreatment procedures, coating systems and adhesives. As a result a guideline for approval of this new technology can be presented regarding adhesion strength of coating and adhesive, corrosion resistance tests, durability of the bond as a system and hints for the substitution of welding by structural bonding.