LOCTITE^® Supports First Self-Sustaining House on Wheels

Solar Team Eindhoven Constructs First Self-Sustaining House on Wheels With the Help Of LOCTITE^® Adhesives

The mechanical engineering students at the Technical University of Eindhoven built their first Solar RV and toured around Europe to reach the most southern tip of Spain back in 2020 and 2021. The students were supported by the university and for production support they reached out to external parties that share their vision on the use of safer products for the environment and humanity. LOCTITE® provided adhesives for the construction phase, enabling the students to bond complex materials and combine strength with rigidity or flexibility in the build where needed, without compromising on weight and aerodynamics. 

Stella Vita as a Model of Energy Efficiency

In order to find new challenges, the Solar Team Eindhoven decided to work on a new type of vehicle. In 2020, a “new” Solar Team Eindhoven decided it was time for a next challenge: building Stella Vita, a mobile home wherein you can live and work while traveling on the energy of the sun. Stella Vita is a morph of a solar car and a camper. With a rated battery range of 600km and 730km on a sunny day and a battery capacity of 60kWh, Vita is incredibly energy efficient.

This energy efficiency is the direct result of a streamlined aerodynamic design and fully-integrated solar roof. With Vita being a proof-of-concept vehicle, it inspires the world as a contributor to the energy transition. Stella Vita generates energy through its solar panels on the roof and uses this energy for both driving and living. A team of 22 students designed and produced Stella Vita within 10 months. 

Adhesives for Structural Purposes

Since three years, experts from LOCTITE^® aided the students with their knowledge on how to design for adhesives (theoretically) and how to apply adhesives (practically). They guided the Solar Team Eindhoven during the process and provided them with products so they could easily start applying adhesives for structural purposes. The students were attracted by the innovative and sustainable vision of Henkel with a focus on safer products for the environment and for humans.

The exterior of the car is glued to the chassis with adhesives. It was not possible to use bolts and rivets because the material is not suited for it and because it would undermine the streamlined shape of the car. During the development phase, experts from LOCTITE^® assisted the Solar Team in finding the right geometry and product selection. Different application techniques were discussed to make this challenge a success.

For structural bonding applications where strength and stiffness is required, the students used TEROSON EP5065, a two component epoxy. For applications where strength and flexibility is required they used LOCTITE UK1367 B10, a two component polyurethane. For fast curing on both interior and exterior applications, Henkel advised to use instant bonders for fast curing and their latest developments on sustainability, like LOCTITE 401, 403 and 460. This solution enabled the Solar Team to fix things the moment they found them without extending the production time.

Investing in Innovation

LOCTITE^® is used in various industries such as electronics, automotive, aerospace, biomedical and several others. The products offer solutions for all adhesive technologies in the production process. The LOCTITE^® brand, which has been part of the Henkel portfolio since 1997, is famous for its excellent adhesives and sealants. Since the development of a unique anaerobic technology more than 50 years ago, LOCTITE^® products have become an indispensable part of various machines and products that are part of everyday life. Today, LOCTITE^® is a worldwide leader when it comes to adhesives and continuously invests in innovation.

In 2022, LOCTITE^® launched three new CMR-free adhesives with a strong focus on health and safety. The new formula offers the same qualitative end result but is healthier for the user because no hydroquinone has been added (which is a CMR, i.e. carcinogenic-mutagenic-reprotoxic, a raw material that is either carcinogenic or mutagenic or harmful to fertility/reproduction).