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Moisture Content Control in Adhesives and Primers
7/14/2011 |
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In modern car manufacturing, adhesive bonding is increasingly replacing conventional, mechanical bonding techniques. Correct moisture control of the adhesive components ensures the quality of the final product. Eftec AG uses METTLER TOLEDO Moisture Analyzers for fast, easy and reliable moisture analyses in the QC lab and on the production line.
Moisture control of raw materials
Eftec AG is a worldwide leading supplier to automotive manufacturers of adhesives, coatings, sealants and sound dampening materials for use at every stage of production from the body shop to final assembly. Almost all materials used in production require tight moisture content control which is critical to ensure trouble-free manufacturing processes and high quality products.
Raw materials, such as carbon black, are mixed with additives to form different adhesives. The correct moisture level is crucial for the mixing process. Bruno Müller, head of the QC laboratory explained, "If the carbon black is too wet, then the material will cure prematurely during the mixing process, leading to poor quality products and potentially damaging the mixing apparatus."
Fast results on the production line
Each batch of carbon black is dried and analyzed for its moisture content before the mixing vessel is filled. In the past, this analysis was conducted by specialized laboratory personnel using Coulometric Titration. This meant that the QC laboratory had to work the same shifts as production, requiring extra resources.
Looking for a faster and easier way to test the moisture content directly on the production line, Mr. Müller chose the METTLER TOLEDO HB43-S for its proven measurement technology, robust design and clear user guidance which ensure trouble-free operation in all environments. The HB43-S combines proven METTLER TOLEDO weighing technology with ultrafast halogen heating, leading to short testing times and highly reproducible measurement results. Cross validation with the titration method showed that the same results were achieved with the HB43-S. The production workers are now able to check the moisture content of the dried carbon black quickly and easily themselves without having to wait for laboratory tests. Thanks to its robust construction and simple operating procedures the HB43-S is the perfect instrument for moisture analysis in production.
Determination of dry content in primers
Adhesives are used to safely bond windshields, headlights and taillights and also provide vehicle body strength. In vehicle interiors, adhesives bond headliners, door panels, instrument panels, seating components and more. Primers increase the bonding quality between the adhesive and the metal and glass surfaces and therefore play an important role in the whole adhesion process.
Eftec produces a large range of high performance primers. The quality of a primer depends, among other things, on its final dry content. Eftec regularly verifies the dry content of different primers with an HR83 Moisture Analyzer from METTLER TOLEDO. The HR83 has a readability of 0.001% moisture content with unique tools for test method development and quality control. Methods for up to 40 substances can be stored and accessed directly in this versatile instrument, making the testing of new substances highly efficient.
www.mt.com/moisture |
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