Araldite is an epoxy based repair adhesive for structural bonding of metal, aluminium, carbon fibre, bonding of roofs , side panels, roof panels etc.
A problem often faced by autobody repairers is the satisfactory, economical repair to the heat and impact sensitive thin-metal panels increasingly being used to cut car weight and fuel consumption, and now also available in sections to obviate the need for whole-panel replacement.
Araldite bonding, which has been approved by Adam Opel AG, General Motors' German affilate, is the solution to the problem! Opel has carried out extensive crash tests which show that Araldite-bonded metal-to-metal joints withstand impacts that severely buckle adjoining metal panels. In addition, such joints form water-tight, corrosion-proof seals.
The test have also shown that, depending on the type of panel being repaired. Araldite bonding instead of welding, cuts the man-hour cost of the job by 15 to 30%
Bonding entails cutting away the damage section of the panel, jogging to give an overlapping edge with the new section, and abrading and degreasing the joint surfaces. The Araldite adhesive is then applied, and the new panel section is held in place while it cures, either with clamps, rivets or - in non-fire hazard areas - a few spot welds.
The cure time for the Araldite adhesive is 8 - 12 hours at about 20°C. This can be cut radically to about 30 minutes with hot air or electric heating tape.
Bonding calls for no investment in special equipment. All a bodyshop needs is the two-pack. Araldite Panelbeating Resin and Hardener.
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