Innovations Abound

From newly developed raw materials and chemicals to finished products and high-tech applications, the adhesive and sealant industry continues to focus on innovation.

The development and production of adhesives and sealants is an exceptionally complex process. One little tweak in a formulation can make the difference between an innovative, top-selling product and a potential liability. The same additive might be the perfect solution for one formulation but wreak total havoc in another. This is why it’s important to have options, and the great news is that more are being developed every day.

Articles in this issue discuss silane-modified polymers, liquid polybutadienes, clay-based rheology modifiers, and more. Could one of these materials be the key to your next major product development? Take a look and find out!

We’re also covering transportation end-use applications this month, with two articles focusing on the high-growth sector of electric vehicles. “The transformation of the world’s vehicles from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to electric vehicles (EVs) relies in large part on what holds the vehicles together—namely, adhesives,” writes DuPont’s Andreas Lutz. “A wide portfolio of adhesive solutions is helping automakers worldwide mass-produce EVs that are safer and perform better than ever.”

How are adhesives evolving and helping to drive innovation in this exciting market? Lutz discusses the details in “Seven Ways Adhesives Push EV Design Forward.”

Adhesives find utility throughout the vehicle assembly process, but EV batteries raise unique challenges. In his article, Scott Krusinski of Avery Dennison Performance Tapes focuses on the battery assembly and explains how pressure-sensitive tapes can provide solutions.

“The EV space is an area that will provide tremendous opportunities for converters and others working with high-performance, pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes,” he writes. Turn to “Solving Challenges in EV Batteries with Pressure-Sensitive Tapes” to learn more.

What innovative new materials, products, or applications is your company focusing on? I’d love to hear all about it and possibly highlight your advancements in a future issue of ASI. Please contact me at (248) 786-1704 or suttons@bnpmedia.com to share your story.