High-performance adhesive for the transportation systems of the future

When you sit on a train, you probably rarely realize how much technology and expertise from a wide range of industries has gone into its creation. The materials used are diverse. The various elements are joined together into a whole by welding, screwing, riveting, bolting and now, increasingly, gluing. New adhesives are opening up many possibilities in design and performance improvements.

The Hyperloop is based on the idea of a passenger capsule that can be accelerated to high speeds in an interconnected low-pressure environment.

The system is planned within large tubes which sealed and partially evacuated. Mobility hubs are to connect cities with each other. Pods “travel” in the tubes and can move at very high speeds thanks to contactless hovering drive systems and low air resistance.

Although the origins of such an idea date back to the 19th century, it still fascinates inventors and developers. The quintessential of these, Elon Musk, launched a competition to accelerate its development with the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition project. In 2013, he presented his project, in which passengers would race through a tube at speeds of up to 1,250 kilometers per hour. In 2017, the final of the competition took place: three so-called pods were allowed to drive on the 1.6-kilometer test track. A total of three of these competitions took place, including the eventual winning team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

As part of the Hyperloop project, very special requirements were placed on the materials used. These included the light strips that were installed by the TUM project team. An important factor for the lighting was the adhesive used to mount the LED light strips in the tube and on the outside of the passenger capsule. The light strips must be able to withstand extreme conditions during the journey, such as strong vibrations and temperature fluctuations. The adhesive must therefore not only ensure permanent adhesion, but also be flexible enough to compensate for material stresses. The choice for the TUM scientists' Hyperloop project fell on an adhesive from RUDERER, the 2-component MMA adhesive technicoll® 9414. The adhesive based on epoxy resin, MAM and PUR cures crystal clear so that the design of the futuristic capsule was not disturbed.

Just how important even small details often are for the big picture can be seen time and again in a wide variety of industrial sectors where adhesives are used. These currently include the automotive industry, for example in the field of transportation, where high-quality adhesives are used to bond the engine, hood components, windscreen or other parts of the bodywork instead of welding or riveting. The large number of sensors that are now installed in cars are also bonded using suitable industrial adhesives.

In fact, no transportation system can do without the right adhesive. For example, seat upholstery, floor coverings or components are always bonded together, regardless of what they are later used for. The list goes on and on.

Today, experts (see box: further training) have access to over 1000 different adhesive variants and can bond almost all possible materials together. The advantage: hardly any additional weight to the components, no rust at the joints, everything is sealed against moisture. This means that both today and in the future, adhesives will be with us for a long time to come!

Anyone who wants to can get an overview of the areas of application for adhesive technology from the Industrieverband Klebstoffe e.V. (Adhesives Industry Association in Germany). Naturally, the topic of adhesives and glues will once again play a role at K 2025.