Visible distortions in Class "A" automotive surfaces are considered to be unacceptable by many customers. One source of distortion, called bond-line read-through (BLRT), can be caused by curing adhesive in a bonded assembly at an elevated temperature. BLRT has no impact on the structural performance of automotive body panels, yet it diminishes a customer's perception of the quality of a vehicle. When a panel is discovered to exhibit BLRT in production, the most straightforward solution is to increase the thickness of the outer panel - essentially adding weight for appearance. The Automotive Composites Consortium (ACC) has undertaken a multi-year project to develop a better understanding of the causes of this distortion so that OEMs can use minimum thickness body panels and still meet customer expectations for surface appearance quality.
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