When Adhesives Don’t Replace Rivets, They Strengthen Them

    Rivets are being replaced by adhesives – but there are still areas where they are often used. Heavy-duty truck bodies are among these, but while the rivets bond the panels effectively on the factory-floor, the vibration of regular driving causes fatigue, while contact between rivets and aluminum panels causes corrosion. The latter problem is usually overcome by using a coating – but during repairs, the coating may be breached resulting in corrosion.

   3M recently released information on how to prevent these problems through rivet bonding.It recommends 3M PN8115 Panel Bonding Adhesive for use in conjunction with rivets. When using the product with rivets, stronger bonds are formed, and the material acts as an isolator between dissimilar substrates that would otherwise corrode. At the same time, it prevents leaks and reduces vibration that would otherwise place strain on rivets. When using the product solely as an isolator between dissimilar substrates, a simplified process is followed.

    Given that product selection depends on a variety of factors, choosing the right one can be difficult. To help repairers make the right material choices for the task at hand, 3M provides detailed information about its products and how to use them on its website.