3M™ Panel Bonding Adhesive

The result of years of development and testing, our 3M™ Panel Bonding Adhesive bonds and seals plastic and metal substrates including cold roll steel, aluminum, SMC, and FRP (traditional fiberglass). It is ideal for bonding quarter panels, roofs skins, box sides, van sides, utility vehicle sides and door skins – anywhere that requires a lasting bond for outer body panels, without the added time and expense of riveting or welding. In fact, adhesive bonding can be a time and money-saving replacement for many collision repair jobs that have traditionally required welding or riveting. Many interior or other adjacent parts that must be removed to avoid damage from welding can remain installed when bonding.

Note: Panel Bonding Adhesive should only be used to bond structural components such as pillars, rockers or frame members when specified by an OEM (Example: Aluminum Ford F-150). Unless specified by an OEM, structural components should be welded.

Efficient Application
Two-part panel bonding adhesive is available from 3M in cartridges from 50 mL to 400 mL, and works seamlessly with 3M manual applicator guns such as 08117 and the 3M pneumatic applicator gun 09930 for the 200ml cartridges. It applies quickly from the cartridge with no pre-mixing or measuring. The adhesive contains glass beads which reduces excessive squeeze-out and makes it easy to form consistent bondlines.  A work time of up to two hours and the added heat-assisted on-demand curing allows for accurate application, squeeze-out sealing and cleanup. The bonding adhesive also has an excellent shelf life even after it’s been opened, reducing the cost of replacing unused product.

The Benefits of Bonding vs. Welding
Bonding adhesive maximizes shop time, as it can be used quickly and conveniently for many applications where welding or riveting have traditionally been the best options. Technicians can save time by welding only where adhesive peel failure or ghost lines are a concern, and achieve better results by bonding in areas where sheet metal can warp during the welding process. You can even resistance spot weld directly through uncured adhesive for areas where a weld can add stability. The bonding adhesive contains corrosion inhibitors to resists corrosion much better than welds or rivets, helping to extend the life of the body panel repair.

Note: Panel Bonding Adhesive should only be used to bond structural components such as pillars, rockers or frame members when specified by an OEM (Example: Aluminum Ford F-150). Unless specified by an OEM, structural components should be welded.

Better Science for Better Bonding from 3M
3M™ Panel Bonding Adhesive is the result of years of laboratory development and field testing. Our scientists pioneered “bondline control” in the collision repair market, incorporating glass beads into our adhesive formula that work as built-in spacers for optimal bond line thicknesses. Our adhesive cartridges, together with our manual and pneumatic applicator guns and mixing nozzles, form a system that eliminates pre-mixing or measuring of two-part epoxies. The ability to bond effectively results in a more versatile, cost-effective shop.