Henkel has launched a new high‑performance gasket technology for the automotive industry.

Henkel’s expanded gasket portfolio delivers improved performance and reliability.
Shanghai – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Henkel has recently expanded its gasket portfolio to include new materials and technologies specifically designed for the automotive industry. The company’s latest innovation, Loctite 5883™ polyacrylate gasket, offers higher oil resistance and proven low gas permeability, enabling customers to enhance product performance and reliability while helping them achieve productivity goals and reduce process costs.
As regulations become stricter and standards continue to rise, the automotive industry is undergoing constant change, bringing with it evolving end‑user demands and new product designs. The use of lightweight materials such as plastics has become a common strategy among automotive designers seeking to achieve fuel efficiency and sustainability goals.
The number of plastic components integrated into engines, HVAC modules, and electronic assemblies—such as covers or upper water tanks—is steadily increasing, and these components need to be sealed to their core assemblies. The most commonly used method for sealing plastic substrates is the Press‑In‑Place (PIP) process, which requires manually placing a solid rubber gasket or O‑ring onto the part. This process carries the risk of gasket displacement during pressing, which can lead to rework or leakage.

A Milestone for the Automotive Industry

With the introduction of the new polyacrylate gasket technology, Henkel is able to apply liquid gaskets directly onto plastic automotive components, thanks to the liquid gasket’s excellent adhesion to plastic substrates. The liquid gasket can be cured in seconds using ultraviolet light, forming a uniformly bonded, solid compressed gasket. This not only reduces the risk of rework and leakage, but also improves productivity and lowers overall costs through automation of the gasket application process, elimination of inventory, and removal of the complexities associated with using PIP solid gaskets. In addition, with polyacrylate sealants, there is no need to worry about volatile gases escaping from silicone sealants in sensitive electronic components.

Polyacrylate gasket materials also offer good adhesion to aluminum and are therefore recommended for sealing between metals. The combination of the new Loctite 5883 and the new high‑precision XIPG gasket process marks a milestone in chemical and process development for the automotive industry, bringing benefits to the entire sector in terms of fast and efficient production, fuel efficiency, and sustainability.