Method of edge fold sealing

US6478915B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignees

• VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT · DE
• Sika AG, Vorm. Kaspar Winkler & Co. · CH

Inventors

• Jörg Schmalbruch · Königslutter am Elm, DE
• Peter Merz · Hanerau-Hademarschen, DE
• Patricia Bucher · Zürich, CH
• Karl-Heinz Sonnenberg · Wolfsburg, DE
• Volker Beckord · Hannover, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 3, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 12, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 3, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T156/1034
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A method of sealing body parts such as an edge fold of a motor vehicle component, for example a door, a rear or front flap or a sliding roof panel, includes a two-step pre-cross-linking of the sealing composition in the rough body part. In a first step the surface of a UV-active sealing composition is pre-cross-linked by UV irradiation, and in a second step immediately following, the edge fold adhesive and the sealing composition are hardened by thermal action. The edge-sealed body parts produced by the method are transportable and are of visually and functionally satisfactory quality after passing through cleaning baths and after thermal hardening in a KTL kiln. Since the sealing is carried out in the rough body part rather than during the coating process, the method provides a substantial potential cost saving.