Tag Archives: Henkel

Weir Minerals, Henkel develop industry-first adhesive for rubber lining applications

Weir Minerals, manufacturer of Linatex®, a leading brand of premium natural rubber, has partnered with adhesive producer Henkel and its team of LOCTITE® adhesive, sealant and coating specialists, to develop what it says is a mining industry-first solvent-free adhesive for rubber lining applications with zero volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

VOCs are carbon-based, organic chemicals often used in adhesives, paints and coatings. They are subject to strict regulations, with some governments aiming to limit worker exposure while others target large-scale emissions in order to improve air quality. Mining companies also target VOC emissions as part of their sustainability strategies.

In collaboration with Henkel, Weir Minerals developed the LINATEX LOCTITE – LINA 88™ cold-bonding rubber adhesive range in response to the growing need for safer and more sustainable products. Complementing the Linatex rubber products, this breakthrough in adhesive technology reflects Weir’s core values of safety, sustainability and performance, is says.

With new LINATEX LOCTITE – LINA 88 products, cutting down the VOC emissions does not mean having to compromise on performance, according to Weir. The custom-formulated rubber adhesive range sets a new industry benchmark for bond strength by exceeding the current British Standard by up to four times, and is significantly stronger than other products presently used in mining, it says.

“We’ve had many customers across the globe approach us to help them find ways to improve safety for their employees,” Mark Doyle, Global Product Manager – Linatex Rubber and Hose, says. “At Weir Minerals we take safety very seriously and looked at several possible solutions. Our team worked closely with the LOCTITE experts and developed an adhesive that is stronger than any other product in the market today with the double benefit of being solvent-free with zero VOCs.

“Coincidentally, many mine sites and even regional governments are now starting to mandate that only adhesives with zero VOCs be used on site – we are thrilled to say that we have a product that meets this challenge.”

Safety and sustainability focus was the main driver of the project, according to Ricardo Garib, Weir Minerals Division President.

“Working with Henkel to develop an adhesive that not only outperforms what is currently on the market, but also delivers environmental and safety benefits, is a fantastic result for mine operators and their employees,” he says. “Weir Minerals promotes a safe environment for everyone; we consider it a priority for our customers and our own people in our service centres where we line minerals processing equipment with Linatex rubber. With sustainability as a key issue within our industry, we are proud to be at the forefront with innovative new products.”

Mark Dorn, Senior Vice President Craftsmen, Construction & Professional, for Henkel Adhesive Technologies and President of Henkel Asia Pacific, added: “It’s always exciting to pioneer new solutions for our customers that are able to deliver on both innovation and sustainability. Being able to positively impact environmental and occupational safety for those in the mining industry is definitely a rewarding accomplishment for the team.”

Dr Nigel Fay, Corporate Vice President, Innovation & Application Engineering, for Henkel Adhesive Technologies, says: “Delivering this breakthrough innovation to the market is representative of the mission that the LOCTITE business has delivered on for nearly 70 years. It’s about leveraging our expertise, our passion for innovation and our focus on solving the most difficult challenges to create new value for customers. Having the opportunity to bring this to life in collaboration with another industry leader like Weir Minerals has been extremely satisfying and is a true model for future success in the area of innovation.”

The new LINATEX LOCTITE – LINA 88 adhesive range has undergone extensive trials in the APAC region, exceeding customer expectations, Weir says.

Weir Minerals says it will be specifying the new solvent-free and zero VOCs products for all its Linatex applications around the world.

The entire range is non-flammable and is, therefore, safer to use, easy to transport and does not require any special handling or storage facilities, according to the company. It can also be sprayed over the top of rubber lining to provide solid UV protection.

Henkel LOCTITE 270 shores up jaw crusher operation in Australia

Henkel’s LOCTITE® 270 adhesive thread locking has come to the rescue of a mining operation in Australia that was facing a potential collapse of the jaw crusher equipment frame.

According to Henkel, the failure of a threaded assembly through self-loosening not only risks lost production but also worker safety. This was the case at the Australia mine site.

The M36 anchor bolts in question had been locked by spring washers that could not rise to the challenge of securing bolts on a piece of equipment subject to continuous vibration and high shear forces, according to Henkel. This resulted in the loosening – and, ultimately, breaking off – of anchor bolts and the collapse of concrete footings.

Spring washers, also known as lock or helical spring washers, are one of the most popular mechanical devices for securing threaded fasteners against self-loosening, Henkel says. The washer is squashed flat when the nut is tightened against the mounting surface so that its sharp edges dig in to prevent the threaded fastener unwinding.

In practice, a spring washer may delay the length of time it takes for the bolt to loosen, but it will not permanently prevent it, according to Henkel. “The main reason is that the split washer does not solve the gapping issue, the free space remaining between the threads of the nut and the bolt,” it said.

On a typical threaded assembly there is just 15% efficient metal-to-metal contact between the threads. Everything else is empty space that enables plenty of side-to-side movement for the bolt. Additionally, being metal itself, a spring washer can cause damage to contact faces and corrode in place.

For the Australia mining operation, this problem was exacerbated by the size of the bolts. The bigger the bolts, the bigger the gap between threads, which leads to more vibrational impact on the assembly. This realisation resulted in the company changing to adhesive thread locking with LOCTITE 270, according to Henkel.

This is a high strength formulation that fills all gaps between the thread and prevents any movement of the bolt within the nut, according to Henkel.

“Secured this way, the assembly is completely vibration-proof but can still be easily dismantled with hand tools for repair and maintenance,” it said. “Additionally, the liquid thread locker seals the threads against humidity and dust, preventing corrosion and surface erosion.”

This simple adjustment to working practice has not only underpinned productivity but contributed to a safer working environment at the operation, Henkel says.

One 50 ml bottle of liquid thread locker is sufficient to secure around 850 M10 bolts but, unlike spring washers, can be used on any bolt size, according to the company.