In cooperation with Audi, Henkel has developed an auto body pre-treatment with a patented two-step process, enabling surface treatment of multi-metal auto bodies with an aluminium content of up to 100%. In zinc phosphating, which was the conventional process, the volume of waste products increases as the aluminium content of mixed material bodies rises. These are very costly to remove from the pre-treatment bath and the surfaces that are treated in them.
Due to the different surface properties of steel and aluminium body components, the BONDERITE two-step process pre-treats them in two stages. This allows more aluminium to be used, while reducing the disadvantages of the current process. Energy and chemical use decrease during the production process, plus servicing expenses, the associated downtime, and waste volumes are also reduced.
Audi was the first company to integrate this method into its processes. The two-step process has now become the global standard for pre-treatment of auto bodies with a high aluminium content and is applied by leading automobile manufacturers around the world.
Peter Kuhm, business director of automotive surface treatment Europe at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, explains: “The BONDERITE two-step metal pre-treatment process for multi-metal bodies provides superior corrosion performance while reducing investment and processing costs. We are very proud of our collaboration, not only with Audi, but also with other global leading automobile manufacturers”
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