Huntsman Advanced Materials' (Los Angeles) Araldite 2015 epoxy is proving to be the ideal adhesive for bonding aluminum profiles to metal railcar door frames manufactured by Schlösser Metallbau GmbH (Nürnberg, Germany). The door frames are being built for BR 423 Siemens Bombardier trains that run on suburban railway systems throughout Germany.

According to Schlösser Metallbau engineers, Araldite 2015 adhesive is easy to handle and provides the durability required for the demanding transportation application.

To assemble railcar doors, technicians begin by degreasing the surfaces with acetone and then applying a primer. Next, mixed Araldite 2015 is applied to the chromated aluminum frame profiles and is injected through bore holes to ensure complete coverage of the components being joined. The profiles are then clamped in place on the door and allowed to cure at room temperature for 8 hours.

The epoxy combines flexibility, impact strength and the ability to withstand exposure to a variety of weather extremes. It is a sag-resistant, gap-filling paste that is easy to apply on vertical surfaces up to a 0.39-inch thickness. Supplied in 400-milliliter dual-barrel cartridges, the adhesive has a 35-minute gel time and attains handling strength after 4 hours at room temperature. Once cured, the epoxy produces joints with a lap shear strength of 3,200 psi at room temperature and peel strength of 29 pounds per linear inch. Maximum service temperature is 176 F. In addition to metal substrates, the adhesive can be used on fiberglass-reinforced plastics.

For more information about adhesives, call 818-247-6210 or visit www.huntsman.com.