Evonik Develops Adhesives Sustainability Concept

Essen, Germany-based chemical manufacturer Evonik, which has a site in Theodore, has developed a concept called “Debonding on Demand” to meet the growing requirements of the manufacturing industry to increase circularity by improving the sustainability of adhesives. The technology aims to address the pressing need for adhesives that can be easily removed for recycling and repair. Evonik says traditional adhesives can present challenges when it comes to the repair and recycling of bonded components. Debonding on Demand aims to address these challenges by leveraging reversible or cleavable covalent bonds as the foundation of the chemical network, ensuring economic viability and operational efficiency. “This new development is highly applicable and will complement existing thermal debonding technologies, such as stretch-and-detach or electric debonding, making it an attractive option for a wide range of industries,” the company said. “It has the potential to transform the circular economy by making the disassembly and recycling of products easier and more efficient.” The approach is compatible with existing adhesive technologies, including polyurethanes,and it has low viscosity, which can make it easier to use in various applications.