BETAMATE 1630 Structural Adhesive from Dow Automotive Wins 2014 R&D 100 Award

Auburn Hills, Michigan -- R&D Magazine has recognized BETAMATE 1630 structural adhesive from Dow Automotive Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, as one of the 100 most technologically significant products introduced in the past year. The adhesive was evaluated for design, development, testing and production as judged by an independent panel and R&D Magazine editors and is one of five Dow innovations recognized with a 2014 R&D 100 award.

Used to bond the body structure of automobiles during assembly, BETAMATE 1630 enables the use of dissimilar substrates, such as carbon fiber composites with aluminum or light-weight steel, to achieve a weight savings of 70 ? 100 kg per vehicle. This also contributes to improved efficiency, sustainability and a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.

Additional performance advantages include improved crash safety, durability, driving and handling characteristics. Noise and vibrations are reduced. The adhesive is also designed to be easy to apply, providing benefits on the assembly line as well as in the finished vehicle.

“Structural adhesives like BETAMATE 1630 provide automotive manufacturers with a joining option that also delivers multiple vehicle enhancements such as improved safety and crash behavior” said Dr. Andreas Lutz, R&D Manager, Metal Bonding and Reinforcement for Dow Automotive Systems. “The bonding of dissimilar substrates is instrumental in supporting the design and production of lightweight vehicles that are more efficient and more environmentally friendly. Adhesives can be customized to deliver a wide range of performance benefits tailored to the needs of specific applications.”

About the R&D 100 Awards Widely recognized as the “Oscars of Invention”, the R&D 100 Awards identify and celebrate the top technology products of the year. Past winners have included sophisticated testing equipment, innovative new materials, chemistry breakthroughs, biomedical products, consumer items, and high-energy physics. The R&D 100 Awards spans industry, academia, and government-sponsored research.

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