Body panels and Sika Flex help

[Scandia]

Hi, I am wondering about your thoughts. I am using 3/8 Wabash Duraplate panels for the exterior of my rig. I am planning on using Sikaflex 252 to hold it on to an aluminum frame. They will be butt joints with sikaflex in the joint butted up tight to each other. Wondering what the thoughts of the group are on the feasibility of this method. And more importantly has anyone painted sikaflex. It will be a very small amount but I wanted to make sure it's ok. Thanks!

 

[Scandia]

This is a crude diagram of the joint. Sikaflex is red in the diagram.

 

[Atl-atl]

Youll be better off posting this into one of the camper specific forums

Expedition Portal

Largest and Oldest Overland Forum

forum.expeditionportal.com

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

First thing is to question your grade choice of Sikaflex.
252 is very high "tensile" but lower "elongation before break" meaning the glue joint thickness must be larger to accommodate any differential expansion between the sheet and the substrate.
Maybe consider 11FC which is more flexible and stretches further before breaking?
Whichever you use, use lots.

Secondly, it is essential to use the appropriate Sikaflex primers for the surfaces to achieve the best adhesion.

My experience with painting Sikaflex is good.

My truck was built 20 years ago and is totally held together with Sikaflex 252 and 11FC. I have never had a glue joint fail.



Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[ITTOG]

I am pretty sure that 252 is not UV compliant so the material not protected from sunlight will fail. I used 252 to connect aluminum to paint and to steel and 3M 4000UV for anything exposed to sunlight.

 

[Scandia]

Thanks for the replies! Has anyone painted over 252? the joints will be tight where the 2 panels meet so not much exposed. Hoping to not use some sort of trim strip to cover the vertical joints. I am planning to paint the whole rig with urethane enamel. If an Admin sees a better place for this thread could you please move it? I don't know how to do it. Thanks!!

 

[rruff]

3/8 Wabash Duraplate is very heavy... 2.8 lb/sq ft... with negligible R value (.2). A composite foam core/ fiberglass skin panel is typically about half the weight and has R values in the 5 (1") to 15 (3") range.

 

[Scandia]

Thanks for the response. I already own the panels. They are very durable. Not interested in making panels or buying very expensive panels.