Henkel’s breakthrough debonding-on-demand technologies are powerful enablers of circularity and sustainability in the automotive industry. They ensure strong, durable bonds that release with precision, on demand, for repair, reuse, or recycling. Built for circularity, they enable scalable bonding, debonding-on-demand, and rebonding. We offer solutions for EV batteries, displays, electronic control modules, smart faces, and more.
Let’s rethink bonding from the inside out – and unlock one lifecycle after another. Contact our team at circular-mobility@henkel.com.
We collaborate with our customers to push design boundaries and embed circularity into automotive design and manufacturing.
Henkel’s debonding-on-demand technologies empower OEMs and suppliers to lead the transition toward electrification and sustainable mobility – redefining product lifecycles through repair, reuse, and recycling, and enabling smarter, more circular production at scale.
We are proud to be a trusted development partner for our customers. And by leveraging our legacy of innovation and expertise, we can challenge the single-use mindset, re-create processes and materials, and champion circularity across the automotive industry, together.
Debonding-on-demand is an adhesive technology that makes products easier to take apart, repair, and recycle. By enabling clean separation of materials, it keeps resources in use for longer, reducing waste, promoting reuse, and recovering valuable raw materials.
Its impact spans the entire product lifecycle. It enables smarter design and production, easier repairs during use, and high-quality recycling at end-of-life. Together, these advances support a more circular and sustainable economy.
Debonding-on-demand enables resource-efficient product design by allowing adhesives to be used without permanently locking materials together. This allows for modular products, optimized material choices, and a reduced environmental impact.
With debonding-on-demand, repairs and replacements can be carried out without damaging the product. This supports the growing right-to-repair movement, extends product lifespans, and reduces the need for new resources.
At end-of-life, debonding-on-demand allows clean separation of components for reuse and high-quality recycling. This keeps valuable materials circulating across multiple lifecycles, minimizing waste and contributing to a circular future.
Our adhesives release on demand using controlled triggers, enabling clean, safe disassembly of bonded parts.
Triggered by heat. Softens, decomposes or expands the adhesives‘ polymers.
Triggered by electrical current. Enables precise weakening of bonds for sensitive components.
Specific solvent or chemical solution that weakens bonds, allowing for separation of material layers.
Our adhesives release on demand using controlled triggers, enabling clean, safe disassembly of bonded parts.
Henkel offers multi-substrate, multi-component solutions available in liquid, film, and tape formats – all proven in industrialized applications. This high level of format flexibility allows seamless integration into diverse manufacturing and service environments, supporting the design freedom of components across the value chain.
Henkel’s debonding-on-demand solutions deliver reliable strength during use, and controlled release when required. Henkel technologies focus on medium- to high-strength levels up to and over 12 MPa. This ensures robust mechanical performance for demanding applications, while still enabling efficient end-of-life debonding.
Henkel provides global validation and co-development through its Battery Engineering Centers and Innovation Hubs located in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, and the USA. This global network enables rapid innovation and localization, ensuring that solutions are developed in line with regional requirements and customer needs.
Henkel’s debonding-on-demand technologies help customers stay ahead of evolving global legislation, including the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (ELV), the EU Battery Regulation, and emerging policies across North America and Asia. These regulations increasingly require design for disassembly, material recovery, and improved recycling efficiency – areas where Henkel’s solutions provide a clear advantage.
From concept to industrialization, our solutions fit into existing production lines. We co-design circular-ready processes with repair and recycling partners.
Henkel’s debonding-on-demand technologies enable circularity in next-generation EV batteries. As OEMs move to cell-to-pack and cell-to-chassis designs, selective and safe separation of battery components becomes essential. With precise thermal or electrical triggers, Henkel’s automation-ready debonding-on-demand adhesives facilitate in-line repair, maintenance, reuse, and recycling of battery packs. They ensure strong structural integrity during use and enable precise automated debonding-on-demand for repair or second-life use, powering serviceable and circular battery designs.
Henkel’s debonding-on-demand technology will help OEMs and suppliers reduce repair costs and achieve circularity goals. Enabling the repair of a damaged premium headlamp could reduce costs by more than 80% compared to full replacement. Debonding by thermal activation will enable clean separation of headlamp assemblies – preserving components and helping lower insurance premium.
Latest display technology transforms in-vehicle experience, yet scrapping high-value components is a challenge. Henkel’s debonding-on-demand adhesives enable in-production rework and market repairs through easy, clean display disassembly, enhancing production efficiency, customer satisfaction, and resource recovery at end-of-life.
Electrical system complexity in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) grows 42% annually, driving OEMs and suppliers to adopt high-performance computers and multiple Zone Control Units. With engineering effort up 36%, reworking ECUs is vital. Henkel’s debonding-on-demand solutions enable ECU repair across life phases, reducing scrap and improving recyclability.