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Window bonding in vehicles: which adhesive is best suited, and why?

Window bonding plays a crucial role in modern vehicle manufacturing, not only from a safety and aesthetic perspective, but also because it offers structural benefits. Choosing the right adhesive is essential in achieving this — and that requires an understanding of materials, applications and performance requirements.

Window bonding in vehicles

Up until the 1970s, windshields were mainly clamped into the chassis using rubber seals. That all changed when manufacturers discovered that bonding directly to the chassis not only resulted in a sleeker design, but also increased the torsional rigidity of their vehicles. This development eventually led to improved handling, increased passenger safety and greater design freedom.

Today, window bonding is used in a wide range of vehicles, from passenger cars to trucks, RVs, buses, trains and even marine applications. At the same time, the materials used in vehicle construction have become more complex. Aluminum, steel, composite and plastic panels are all combined to save weight and increase design freedom. And that places higher demands on the adhesive used: aside from having to be strong, it must also remain flexible over the long term and resistant to temperature fluctuations and material movement.

Window bonding: which is best, a polyurethane or MS polymer adhesive?

The types of adhesive most commonly used for window bonding are polyurethane and MS polymer. Both technologies offer excellent tack, elasticity and final strength. Although polyurethane adhesives are often considered stronger, this is not always the case. When bonding windows in vehicles, the maximum tack strength on product data sheets is often used as a benchmark. This leads to less favorable ratings for MS polymer adhesives compared to polyurethane adhesives — which is unwarranted in many situations.

Adhesives are subjected to various forces and deformations during production and use. The exact way an adhesive behaves mechanically can be displayed on a stress-strain curve. This stress-strain curve shows the relationship between the strain (x-axis) and stress (y-axis) of the adhesive, expressed as a percentage and MPa respectively.

Comparison: Sabatack® 760 vs. polyurethane adhesive

We compared our Sabatack^® 760 (MS polymer adhesive) against a polyurethane adhesive commonly used for bonding windows in trains and buses. The table below reveals that the maximum tensile strength and strain of the PU adhesive are significantly higher than those of Sabatack^® 760.

At maximum strain, PU has a final strength of 6 MPa, while our MS polymer adhesive reaches only 3.6 MPa. Based on these figures, you might conclude that PU is the stronger choice.

However, during the life of a vehicle, the adhesive is never exposed to strain in excess of 100%. As such, the more relevant thing to do is consider stress at lower strain levels. A detailed stress-strain curve analysis shows that Sabatack^® 760 offers higher tack strength in the relevant field of use. This has also been confirmed by external measurements carried out at the Fraunhofer Institute in Bremen (GER).

Benefits of an MS polymer adhesive

MS polymer adhesives are a better option for window bonding and sealing than polyurethane adhesives in terms of UV resistance, installer health and the associated mandatory training. On top of that, MS polymer adhesives require less pretreatment. In fact, these types of adhesives are gaining ground due to their ease of processing, broad bonding spectrum and excellent weather resistance.

Keen to find out more about MS polymer?

Sabatack® 760: the ultimate adhesive for sustainable window bonding

For professionals looking for a high-quality solution for window bonding in transportation or marine applications, Sabatack^® 760 XL HT and Sabatack^® 760 XXL are the ideal choice. These MS polymer adhesives combine high initial tack (sag-resistant) with high final strength. They are suitable for both mineral and synthetic windows and offer excellent adhesion to a variety of materials — without complex pretreatment.

The Sabatack^® 760 series is specially designed to perform under tough conditions and guarantees a long-lasting, elastic bond that effortlessly accommodates movement and stress. These adhesives offer the perfect combination of ease of use, durability and safety — exactly what's required in modern window bonding.

Bespoke window bonding advice

Our specialists are happy to help you optimize your production process. If you're looking for a suitable window adhesive but are unsure if the Sabatack^® 760 series could be the solution you need, feel free to contact us using the form below. We will be happy to assist you.

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