Joining two materials permanently that have no intention of holding together – that has been our task for more than 50 years. In 1971 we brought our first adhesive to market. In 1974 the first book bound with GEPOFLEX hot melt adhesive was published.
Today our systems bond thermoplastic elastomers to automotive glass, metal, ceramics and plastics – in applications where the joint has to hold for years.
Adhesive or adhesion promoter? The difference matters
Both create a joint, but by different routes – and the choice affects your process and your costs.
An adhesive forms a layer of its own between the parts being joined. It is applied, the parts are brought together, the joint cures. Both parts already exist beforehand.
An adhesion promoter prepares the surface so that a material can form directly on it. The primer is applied in a thin film, then the elastomer is moulded or extruded onto it – the bond forms during processing. No additional operation, no adhesive layer, no waiting time in assembly.
Wherever a soft component is being moulded on anyway, adhesion promotion is the more economical route. That is exactly what our GEPOPRIME systems are made for.
Where our systems work
- TPE bonded to automotive glass and glazing – seals, encapsulation, edge protection
- TPE studs and pads on metal chains as protective, bearing and damping elements
- soft components on housings and metal parts
- elastomer facings on ceramics and plastics
Applications on automotive glass are the most demanding case: process reliability decides approval, and the joint has to hold for the entire service life of the vehicle – through heat, cold, moisture and UV exposure.
Why we talk to you first
Whether a joint holds never depends on the product alone. The TPE formulation, the surface condition of the substrate, your temperature control, cycle time and the loads the part will face all work together.
That is why every solution here starts with a conversation rather than a data sheet. A few questions are usually enough to say which route is right – and whether adhesion promotion or bonding suits your production.
If we do not have the right product, we will say so. A trial that fails at the customer’s site costs both sides more than an honest no.
Your next step
Three details are enough to start: which elastomer you process, the substrate it has to bond to, and the process you use. On request you will get a trial sample to test under your own conditions.
More about our GEPOPRIME adhesion promoters
Phone: +49 2428 902028