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Henkel Adhesive Technologies

Henkel Adhesive Technologies

Adhesives for the Marine Industry

When the sea tests performance. LOCTITE delivers. Adhesives, sealants and coatings engineered to withstand the toughest marine environments.

Challenges

Marine vessels operate in highly demanding environments where materials and assemblies are constantly exposed to saltwater, humidity, extreme temperatures, vibration and dynamic mechanical loads. These conditions accelerate corrosion, promote condensation, increase noise and vibration, and put significant stress on structural joints, equipment and onboard systems. At the same time, shipyards and marine manufacturers face pressure to reduce weight, improve efficiency, ensure long‑term durability and comply with strict safety and certification requirements. Addressing these combined challenges requires reliable, marine‑ready solutions that deliver strong, watertight bonding, thermal and acoustic protection, and consistent performance throughout the vessel lifecycle.

Protective Coating
Cutaway 3D model of a luxury yacht showing multiple decks, including interior living spaces, a helipad on the bow, and visible mechanical systems inside the hull.

Construction

From rigid to flexible, the solutions are organised into five types. First, in Epoxy, LOCTITE® EA 3421, LOCTITE® EA 9461, LOCTITE® EA 9466, and LOCTITE® M-121-HP provide very high-strength, rigid structural bonding. 

Moving to Hybrid, LOCTITE® HY 4090 and LOCTITE® HY 4080 offer a combination of strength and slight flexibility. 

In Acrylic, LOCTITE® AA 3295, LOCTITE® AA H3000, and LOCTITE® AA H3101 deliver fast curing and strong bonding with moderate flexibility. 

Under Urethane, LOCTITE® UK 1367 B10, LOCTITE® UK 8202, LOCTITE® UK 5400, TEROSON® PU 6700 ME, and TEROSON® PU 9225 UF ME provide durable bonding with increased elasticity. 

Finally, in Modied Silane, TEROSON® MS 9399, TEROSON® MS 935, and TEROSON® MS 939 FR ensure highly flexible bonding and sealing, ideal for absorbing movement and environmental stress.

Technical installations

In technical and marine installations, epoxy chocking with LOCTITE® PC 7202 is used to accurately align and permanently support heavy equipment such as main engines, motors, pumps, and deck-mounted machinery, ensuring long term stability and vibration resistance. For threaded assemblies, LOCTITE® 222, 243, 270, 290, or 2400 are applied depending on the required strength, securing fasteners against loosening while still allowing controlled disassembly when needed.

Metal pipe fittings are sealed using anaerobic thread sealants like LOCTITE® 542, 577, or 5400, or with the polyamide sealing cord LOCTITE® 55, providing reliable, pressure tight connections. In plastic and ABS piping systems, LOCTITE® SI 5331 silicone is used where flexibility is required, while Tangit All Pressure PVC Adhesive creates permanent, high strength bonds in pressurized plastic pipe installations.

Interior and exterior building

For interior applications, interior trim solutions include TEROSON® MS 935, TEROSON® MS 939 FR, TEROSON® MS 9399, and TEROSON® PU 6700 ME, which are used for bonding and sealing interior parts, offering durability and, in the FR grade, fire resistance. To further enhance comfort, structures behind interior trimmings can be coated with Mascoat anti-condensation coatings or thermal coatings such as TEROSON® WT 112 DB. For sandwich panels, LOCTITE® UK 8202 and LOCTITE® UK 5400 provide strong structural bonding for composite panels, while solutions from the AQUENCE adhesive line support wooden furniture applications and specialized PU adhesives such as LOCTITE® UK 8160/5400 are used for flooring. TEROSON® WT 112 also contributes to NVH reduction, improving onboard comfort.

For exterior applications, Deck Bonding includes LOCTITE® UK 8202 and LOCTITE® UK 5400 for structural bonding, along with LOCTITE® AA H3000 and LOCTITE® AA H3101 for fast-curing, high-strength adhesion for small construction parts, while TEROSON® MS 935 and the two-component TEROSON® MS 9399 ensure flexible sealing, with the latter suited for larger gaps and full cure. Deck Caulking with TEROSON® MS 935, TEROSON® MS 939 FR, and LOCTITE® SI 5615 provides durable sealing against weather and saltwater exposure. This is complemented by interior support solutions, including Mascoat anti-condensation or TEROSON® WT 112 DB thermal coatings, as well as AQUENCE adhesives for wooden furniture and LOCTITE® UK 8160/5400 systems for flooring.

Glass bonding

For mineral glass applications, TEROSON® PU 8550 is used to clean the surface and remove contaminants. Adhesion is enhanced with TEROSON® PU 8517H. Bonding is carried out using TEROSON® PU 8590, which has Lloyds Register approval, or the MS polymer adhesives TEROSON® MS 939 and TEROSON® MS 9399, which are also used for sealing and finishing, providing flexibility and long‑term durability.

For organic glass such as PMMA and PC, TEROSON® SB 450 acts as a cleaner and adhesion promoter. TEROSON® BOND All‑In‑One Primer ensures reliable adhesion, while TEROSON® MS 9399 is used for bonding, sealing, and finishing, delivering elastic performance and resistance to environmental stress.

Maintenance onboard

Under lubricants, LOCTITE® LB 8023 and LOCTITE® LB 8009 act as anti-seize solutions for marine and heavy-duty use, preventing corrosion and seizure. LOCTITE® LB 8201 is used for general lubrication, while LOCTITE® LB 8040 supports freeze & release to dismantle stuck components.

Within metal repair, LOCTITE® EA 3463 and LOCTITE® EA 3478 are epoxy solutions designed to rebuild, fill, and restore damaged metal surfaces with long-lasting strength.

For repair and bonding parts, LOCTITE® EA 3430 provides fast epoxy bonding, LOCTITE® HY 4070 works as a universal bonder for multiple substrates, and TEROSON® PU 9225 UF ME is used for plastic repair, offering flexibility and durability.

In emergency pipe repair, LOCTITE® PC 5070 and LOCTITE® SI 5075 provide fast, temporary repair solutions for leaks, ensuring quick sealing and insulation of damaged areas. For more permanent repairs, LOCTITE® pipe repair systems such as LOCTITE® PC 7210 or PC 7211 in combination with LOCTITE® PC 5085 offer reliable long-term solutions and are approved by several classification societies.

As an O-ring kit, LOCTITE® 406 enables the quick creation or repair of O-rings, restoring sealing performance and minimising downtime.

Regarding welding protective coating, LOCTITE® SF 7900 (Ceramic Shield) protects against weld spatter, and LOCTITE® SF 7800 (Zinc Spray) provides corrosion protection on metal surfaces.

In inspection and hand cleaners, LOCTITE® SF 7100 is used for leak detection, LOCTITE® SF 7414 for torque marking, LOCTITE® SF 7850 as a general-purpose hand cleaner, and LOCTITE® SF 7852 as cleaning wipes.

And lastly, under maintenance and industrial cleaners, BONDERITE® C-MC-X Liquid is a light alkaline cleaner for general cleaning tasks, BONDERITE® C-MC 21130 is used as a paint cleaner for removing coatings and residues, and BONDERITE® C-MC 10130 is a cleaning paste designed for more intensive surface cleaning applications.

Cleaning and surface treatment

The adhesives for the cleaning and treatment of the surface are divided in 4 categories. First, under surface preparation, LOCTITE® SF 7063 is used to clean and degrease surfaces, ensuring optimal adhesion before bonding or coating processes.

Within general cleaner, Bonderite® C-MC 90014 wipes and Bonderite® C-MC 90014 are used for removing dirt, oil, and residues, while LOCTITE® SF 7840 provides a versatile cleaning solution for industrial environments.

For surface treatment, TEROSON® SB 450 prepares substrates for flexible adhesives and sealants, BONDERITE® M-NT 1455 wipes support pre-treatment cleaning using advanced nano-technology that improves adhesion and creates a more corrosion-resistant surface for adhesives and paints, especially on aluminum. LOCTITE® SF 7515 further enhances surface protection and bonding performance by providing extended protection after sandblasting or grinding prior to painting, allowing larger areas to be treated before applying new coating layers and helping to reduce overall docking time.

And lastly, in coating, LOCTITE® SF 7505 is applied to protect metal surfaces against corrosion, ensuring long-term durability.

Solutions

Every vessel is built, equipped and maintained through a wide range of critical applications, each exposed to harsh marine conditions. From surface preparation and structural assembly to technical installations, insulation, glazing and onboard maintenance, these applications must withstand moisture, vibration, thermal stress and mechanical loads over time. Henkel supports marine professionals by addressing these real‑world applications with engineered adhesive, sealing and coating solutions that improve durability, efficiency, safety and long‑term performance throughout the entire vessel lifecycle.

Applications

Worker wearing protective gear welding inside the curved interior of a steel ship hull, with bright sparks illuminating the ribbed metal structure and overhead lights lining the tunnel-like space.

Construction

Henkel supports marine construction with bonding and coating solutions that replace or reduce welding and mechanical fastening. Adhesives enable bonding of different materials and structures without heat, deformation or drilling. This supports faster assembly and can reduce noise and enable a lighter, more efficient vessel design, even after hot work has been completed.

Close-up of a yacht’s windshield with two black wiper arms mounted on the glass, overlooking a calm blue sea, with the white deck and metal railings visible in the foreground.

Glass bonding

Modern marine and yacht design increasingly relies on advanced glass bonding solutions that can withstand harsh marine conditions. Henkel supports a range of glass bonding applications. Our proven, reliable systems are suitable for glass and polycarbonate. They combine the necessary strength with the desired flexibility, helping to create safer and more aesthetically pleasing glass structures on vessels. Selected solutions are also certified by Lloyd’s Register, supporting compliance with recognized marine industry standards.

Network of white industrial pipes with multiple red valve bodies and blue handwheel controls, forming a complex fluid system in a clean mechanical room.

Technical installations

Marine technical installations require reliable fastening, precise alignment, and long‑term vibration resistance. Henkel solutions support the chocking, alignment, and installation of main engines, pumps, and generators, while advanced threadlocking and pipe sealing technologies prevent loosening and leaks under dynamic loads—ensuring secure installations, improved reliability, and simplified maintenance. For interior and confined environments, we also offer safer adhesives and cleaning solutions designed to prioritize operator health and safety without compromising performance.

Bright and elegant yacht interior lounge with white sofas, low coffee tables, and built-in shelves, illuminated by natural sunlight through large windows overlooking the sea.

Interior and exterior construction

Interior and exterior applications demand strong yet flexible bonding solutions that support lightweight construction, design freedom, and durability. Henkel provides a wide range of adhesives and sealants for bonding rails, panels, furniture, and structural elements across decks, hulls, and interiors. With advanced coatings and materials that enhance thermal performance, reduce condensation, and improve noise and vibration damping, vessels achieve greater comfort and efficiency with less complexity and weight. Many solutions are developed to meet marine industry standards, with selected products certified to IMO requirements for safety, fire performance, and durability.

Two workers in protective gear performing maintenance on a large anchor winch on the foredeck of a ship, surrounded by coiled ropes, tools, and cables, with the sea visible in the background.

Onboard maintenance

Daily onboard maintenance requires reliable products that are safe for the crew and the environment. These products help repair and protect onboard equipment. By using the right materials such as our LOCTITE® anaerobic products equipment can achieve a longer service life. Many of our products can be ordered through the IMPA system.

Close-up of corroded metal surface with peeling blue paint and visible rust damage, showing flaking layers and rough texture along a seam.

Cleaning and surface treatment

Effective bonding in marine environments starts with proper surface preparation. Hulls, decks and superstructures are often contaminated by rust, oils, resins, salt residues and dirt, all of which can compromise adhesion. Henkel offers safe, compliant cleaning and surface treatment solutions, including water‑based products and wipe alternatives to solvents. These solutions improve adhesion performance while enhancing worker safety and sustainability.

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