Dow Automotive's BETAMATE™ 1620 structural bonding solution supports the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class with enhanced stiffness, crash resistance and noise absorption characteristics. BETAMATE 1620 meets the requirements for crash-stable joining of high-strength steel and offers significant benefits during assembly, including improved flexibility and efficiency.

Among the benefits of BETAMATE 1620, an epoxy-based adhesive, are the distance between spray nozzle of application robot and part can be more flexible, application speed is increased up to 400-600mm/s, there is no need to pre-heat the adhesives tubes and follower plate prior to application, and fewer application stations are required when using longer tubes of adhesive.

Because BETAMATE 1620 has excellent adhesion and oil absorption properties, Mercedes-Benz is able to apply smaller beads and improve the quality of the structure. The colour of BETAMATE 1620 contributes to ease of manufacturing as it is bright red, enabling quick visual confirmation of accurate application. It also shows a long open time, increased from 14 to 30 days, which allows for long-distance transportation and longer storage periods for parts and components.

Interior applications
For the interior components Dow Automotive supplied the new C-Class with mass MAGNUM™ ABS 3416SC resins for the pillar trims. MAGNUM 3416SC met all requirements for thermal stability and crash resistance according to FMVSS201 as well as requirements for airbag deployment, while supporting weight reduction of about 10 percent. For the instrument panel, glass-filled PULSE™ 630GF engineering resins provide superior performance for stiffness, aging and temperature stability.

Both materials help Mercedes-Benz maintain the high quality reputation of its C-class model..

About Dow Automotive
Dow Automotive is a leading global provider of technology-driven solutions that meet consumer demand for vehicles that are safer, stronger, quieter, lighter, cleaner, comfortable and stylish. The organization provides plastics, adhesives, glass bonding systems, sealants, emissions control technology, films, fluids and structural enhancement and acoustical management solutions to OEM, tier and aftermarket customers around the world. For additional information about Dow Automotive products, services, and application development centers, visit www.dowautomotive.com.