When repairing car glass, pasting headlights or mirrors, special compositions are required. More recently, epoxy adhesives were used for this, and today, more technological compounds are used to firmly bond the components of the car to each other. How to choose glue for car glass? Which brand products to give preference?
Features of the compositions
Car glue is a universal tool that can be used with any glass and optical components. Its structure and composition provide tight adhesion of surfaces and sealing joints. At the same time, the products are distinguished by safety and the absence of harmful substances.
Car glass glue most often has a polyurethane base, which provides good bonding. Adhesive sealants are often used when gluing auto glass, headlights and any other optical components.
Selection rules
When buying a product, you need to pay attention to the seller’s quality certificate. A prerequisite for high-quality glue is compliance with the parameters that are written on the package. The tool must meet some requirements:
- elasticity, which is necessary to compensate for the temperature difference - it occurs between glass and metal with the expansion of the composition;
- strength: glue for automotive glass should form a strong seam so that the glass does not fly out in emergency situations;
- modularity: this characteristic helps to glue car parts in a quality manner so that there is no vibration during movement, and the vehicle itself is more manageable;
- conductivity: it is necessary in order to avoid contact of the driver with spurious current.
Today, you can buy polyurethane adhesives of various brands. We suggest you evaluate the products of the most popular brands with a description of their main characteristics and advantages.
For repair or installation of glass
Modern adhesives can be used both in car repairs and in their production when glass is installed. When installing a windshield or rear window, it is important that the joints are airtight and elastic, since it will be heavily loaded on them. Glue is applied to darkened areas of glass, since the composition does not differ in good protection from sunlight. In reviews of glue for automotive windows, Terostat products are often mentioned, which are distinguished by good adhesion to surfaces.
But in the line of other brands, you can find tools that are distinguished by good durability, holding ability and quick gripping. For repairs, the so-called optical adhesives are used, which are resistant to sunlight and quickly restore the optical properties of the surface. Special attention should be paid to ultraviolet glue, which hardens only under sunlight. You can use such compositions on metal surfaces.
About gluing technologies
Glass bonding is carried out according to two technologies - primer and primerless. The first involves the use of a special primer - black primer, which is applied along the edge of the glass. The activator and glue are already applied to it, after which the glass is fixed in the frame. This technology was previously used in many service centers, and today masters use a more modern method - gluing car windows without a primer.
This was made possible thanks to the release of glass with a protective strip, which is applied by silk screen printing. And the primer is replaced by a colorless activator, which can be applied to the metal or the remains of the old sealant. You can’t do without an activator - it is needed to improve adhesion to the primer.
LIQUI MOLY
How to glue car windows if they have crashed or cracked? The LIQUI MOLY brand offers a whole line of one- and two-component compositions that quickly harden under the influence of moisture in the air. Glue-sealants of this brand are ideal for gluing any glass in a car, and the process takes literally 2 hours. In addition to average strength indicators, the adhesive is characterized by high viscosity and excellent quality.
Using LIQUI MOLY 1400 glue, you can quickly paste the glass, and after a few hours use the car. It is applied to the body opening, which is previously carefully leveled and cleaned.
Terostat
Under this brand, high-quality glue for the repair of car windows is produced, which quickly hardens under the influence of moisture. Glasses are ready for operation after 2 hours. The composition is based on polyurethane, which has a high holding capacity at any humidity and temperature. The sealant is widely used for gluing windshields, side windows, rear windows of cars, both trucks and cars. Paste-like consistency affects fast application and hardening.
Terostat automotive sealant glue is applied to a dry surface free of oil, dust and grease. First Primer-8510 is applied using an applicator, after which it is given 15 minutes to dry completely. When inserting glasses already coated with glue, an activator is used. It is needed to ensure good adhesion and is applied in a thin layer. The very last step is to apply glue-sealant manually using some tools.
Betaseal
For professional car glass bonding, high-quality compounds are required. Under the Betaseal brand, glue for car glass is produced, which prevents the windshield from falling out, ensures the correct operation of airbags, and prevents deformation of the roof. Due to the rigidity of the mount, the windshield and the vehicle body are firmly held together. The following characteristics speak in favor of the choice of compounds with a polyurethane base:
- high level of elasticity;
- good adhesion with a painted surface;
- high polymerization rates;
- resistance to sunshine and deformation.
Thanks to good moisture resistance and viscosity, high shear modulus and low specific resistance, the windshield is fully combined with the body.
FC Kit Dinitrol
Glue for gluing automotive windows Dinitrol is a universal tool with a polyurethane base, which, thanks to its good consistency, easily and quickly fills all gaps and freezes under the influence of external moisture. The use of this composition is advisable for direct gluing of windows during the repair or production of vehicles. Good viscosity in combination with application on a quality prepared surface ensures the reliability of adhesive bonding. The most popular lineup in the brand line is Dinitrol 500, which is distinguished by:
- good adhesion with paint coatings;
- lack of smell;
- good performance;
- good shape stability properties;
- high elasticity.
The reviews mention that you need to use Dinitrol compounds with preliminary preparation of surfaces, which involves processing with a primer and activators.
Wurth
Wurth products have established themselves as a reliable tool for gluing rear-view mirrors, parts for turning windows and gluing glass. The range includes various types of sealants, which are distinguished by their ease of use, quick installation due to good adhesion, resistance of the adhesive joint to shock loads or vibrations.
Wurth automotive windshield glue is tested for safety in German laboratories and approved by leading vehicle manufacturers. As with other similar products, prior to the application of glue, cleaning and degreasing of surfaces is mandatory. This will increase adhesion and improve the performance properties of the composition.
The article describes the most popular types of sealants produced by leading manufacturers. All of them are equally effective and easy to use, so there will be no problems with replacing car glass.