Crash durable adhesives from Dow Automotive for structural bonding offer increased stiffness and improved crash resistance as well as noise absorption and meet two opposing performance criteria in today's body construction: safety and weight reduction. To address this challenge OEMs use advanced materials like high strength steel or aluminum and look for advanced joining technologies that fit with those materials and the processing technologies they require.

For the new Jaguar XF, with its high-end materials and new-generation design techniques to maximize structural performance and minimize weight, Dow Automotive supplied an epoxy-based bonding solution from its BETAMATE™ adhesives range, especially developed for the XF. This adhesive meets all the strength and crash parameters as well as production requirements, demonstrating both technical and processing qualities enabling advanced design possibilities with safety and processing benefits.

Among the benefits of BETAMATE' addressing processing issues is the jet stream application. This allows a variable distance between spray nozzle and part to be more flexible, increased application speed and easy 3D applications. Due to its low viscosity, there is no need to pre-heat the adhesives tubes and follower plate saving energy cost and potentially reducing changeover times.

In addition, the application on the Jaguar XF demonstrates the material-oriented properties of Dow Automotive crash durable adhesives. For the XF, high strength Boron steel had to be joined. BETAMATE not only performed as required with this advanced material but also could reach areas difficult for spot welding. Thus the bonding technology addressed both the substrate and accessibility issues.

"Crash durable adhesives from Dow Automotive meet specifications for bonding strength regarding safety and due their application benefits enable efficient manufacturing, reduce costs and inventory. We are proud that Jaguar was convinced by these benefits and chose BETAMATE 1620 for the new XF" comments Marc van den Biggelaar, Global Market Manager Body Structure, Dow Automotive.

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 centres, visit www.dowautomotive.com.

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