Validation of a new nano-modified adhesive joining technology triggered by electromagnetic field, by testing a real component

Nowadays, the importance of recycling and reuse of parts and materials is growing, and the automotive industry is asked to meet stricter and stricter criteria in vehicle design; as a consequence, more significance is given to assembling and disassembling processes. Studies have been carried regarding the possibility to use an innovative technology based on an electromagnetic field in order to join components for the automotive industry. This new method relies on nanoparticles embedded into a hot-melt adhesive matrix: these nanofillers respond to an electromagnetic field by heating and by allowing the adhesive to reach melting temperature, thus causing both the enhancement of polymerization while joining of the components and allowing disassembling of those components. Experimental results show that not only this process is simple, not time-consuming and flexible, but also that, once the components have been assembled, an equally easy disassembling procedure is possible by using similar equipment and operative conditions.