MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – In support of the automotive industry’s effort to further lightweight vehicles and improve fuel efficiency, Henkel Adhesive Technologies has announced the addition of Almond Products as a licensed process center. Almond will apply Henkel’s BONDERITE MGC and BONDERITE ECC Electro Ceramic Coatings to magnesium and aluminum structural parts and powertrain components for automakers.
Henkel’s Electro Ceramic Coatings virtually eliminate corrosion on magnesium and aluminum and their alloys, the company says, enabling the use of the metals in a variety of high production vehicle applications. Examples include interior, structural and powertrain components, as well as the potential for magnesium and aluminum wheels and exterior body components.
“By delivering an anti-corrosion solution for magnesium and aluminum, these coatings have made it possible for automakers to more realistically consider magnesium and aluminum as appropriate solutions for a broad range of automotive applications to support reducing overall vehicle weight,” said David Caro, director of surface treatments, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, Transport and Metal North America. “Our work with Almond Products means the automotive industry can advance even faster toward improving fuel efficiency.”
Henkel’s BONDERITE MGC, a plasma electrolytic deposition process, deposits a ceramic layer of magnesium oxide to help with advanced corrosion protection of the surface – one of the major challenges the industry has faced in using magnesium specifically for vehicle parts. Magnesium is 75 percent lighter than steel.
Henkel’s BONDERITE ECC, while providing excellent corrosion protection, also provides enhanced abrasion resistance and reduces friction, the company says. Despite its excellent hardness, the electro-ceramic coating is also characterized by its flexibility.
“Almond Products is proud to become a licensed process center to Henkel to expand the application of BONDERITE MGC and BONDERITE ECC,” said Brian Hoeker, vice president of operations, Almond Products. “The importance of lightweighting in the automotive industry as it plans to reach CAFE standards by 2025 continues to grow, and we’re prepared to help support both magnesium and aluminum’s roles in these efforts.”
Both BONDERITE MGC and BONDERITE ECC eliminate the need for cure ovens and use far less electrical power than previous methods to reduce the corrosive natures of magnesium and aluminum. The coatings are also an ideal surface for any type of paint finish, from electrodeposition coatings to standard powder paints.
