Sika Technology Ag

Dominique Mellano

Vincent Belpaire

Yves Vandenberg

Norman Blank

Juergen Finter

Jürgen Finter

Yves Vadenberg

Disclosed are various embodiments of a structural reinforcement system. The system reinforces hollow cavities within various products to increase the structural rigidity of the product. The system generally includes a rigid carrier, a bonding material, and an insert. The rigid carrier provides the primary structural reinforcement within the cavity, and also serves as a substrate to carry the bonding material. The insert is provided to increase the structural rigidity of the reinforcement system.

Structural reinforcement system

A structural reinforcement material is provided that includes a base material selected from thermosets, low viscosity thermoplastics with short transition phases and low viscosities, low melting point metallic alloys, and combinations thereof. At STP, the structural reinforcement material is a solid or a formable dough or a mixture thereof. When heated to an activation temperature, the structural reinforcement material becomes flowable into a cavity. Following cooling, the structural reinforcement material is a solid or a thermoset with a strength sufficient to reinforce the cavity. A structural reinforcement insert comprising the structural reinforcement material is also provided, as is a reinforced cavity of an automobile and a method of reinforcing a cavity.

Structural reinforcement material, insert, and reinforced cavity comprising same

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Petit-Roeulx lez Braine, Belgium

Dominique Mellano