New tech centre

HB Fuller | Kömmerling has established a new technology centre to support its liquid lamination technology development programme.

The new Loca (liquid optical clear adhesives) Technology Centre is in Bexbach, Germany, which is supporting both existing and new clients from across Europe, has been established as part of a strategic alliance with process specialists TTEC.

Chris Davis, composites manager for HB Fuller | Kömmerling, said: “The continuing development of a range of liquid, optically clear, adhesive (loca), products holds the key to delivering new technology in the growing genre, termed ‘function in glass’.

“This is generally a laminated glass that encapsulates active or dynamic components between glass leaves, contributing to improvements in occupier wellbeing, security and safety. For example, the added features may enhance the optical or thermal performance of a building.

“There is clear evidence that intelligent buildings are becoming a reality and this is leading to increasingly more complex laminated glass composites and IG specifications, the development of which can be supported by this new technology centre.”

The initial focus of the research and development work is for new solutions for the automotive and construction sectors.

With its Ködiguard, Ködilan, Ködiphone and Köraclear product lines, HB Fuller I Kömmerling offers a high-performance range of liquid lamination materials for producing transparent composite materials. In addition to ‘classic’ laminated glass, these can also be used to produce laminates made of plastic/glass and plastic/plastic. In contrast to foils which are a thermoplastic inter layer used in laminated glass, liquid optical clear adhesives form a chemical bond with the surface. The curing process is passive and does not require the high temperatures and pressure synonymous with a laminating process using foils and an autoclave process. Thanks to the Loca production method, the laminates can also be equipped with integrated functionalities. For example, sensitive electronic components that can be integrated into the intermediate layer, allowing the production of dynamic glazing, eg, switchable electrochromic or media facades with LEDs.

Using this approach forms a three-dimensionally cross-linked composite, which stands out with its high structural stability and combining glass and polycarbonate solutions for use as high-security glasses – providing very thin and ultra-light materials. Since the liquid optical clear adhesives are processed in liquid form, they also adapt to free geometries, and three-dimensionally shaped composite solutions can be realised without any problems.

With Loca solutions the materials are joined together permanently, are break-proof and provide a visually flawless optical quality.

The range of applications for the resulting laminated glass is huge, the company said. It extends from highly resilient protective panes for industrial use, to architecturally sophisticated objects such as glass bridges or glass balustrades, to windscreens, side windows or glass panes for the automotive industry. TTEC has installed the necessary equipment at the liquid composites Technology Centre to process both two-component systems as well as single-component UV-curing solutions.