Posted to News on 7th Nov 2006, 00:00
Making the bond with Benelli motorbikes
One of the Araldite range of structural adhesive solutions from Huntsman Advanced Materials is being used to bond critical parts on the latest model from Italian motorbike manufacturers, Benelli. Araldite 2015 was type-tested by Benelli Q.J. S.r.l. and then included in the production of the Benelli Tre 1130k, a new multipurpose motorbike designed to appeal to both road and off-road users.
For testing purposes, several key parts of the motorbike frame were bonded together with Araldite 2015. First, the three aluminium alloy gravity-cast components of the rear frame - ie both rear sides and the cross bar linking them together - were bonded. The resulting component was then joined to the front frame, made of high resistance steel pipes. Both applications were undertaken simultaneously and the adhesive was applied manually using a supporting pattern structure.
Benelli then decided to use Araldite 2015 in the production of their new model. After a surface pre-treatment to abrade the substrates followed by polishing with a degreasing agent, the two-component, thixotropic adhesive paste was then applied manually. After a six to eight hour cure at room temperature the joints exhibited excellent bonding strength during the dynamic and static loads tests carried out at Benelli's production facility and on the road, reproducing the most critical operating conditions.
