Adhesive Bonding of Plastics

Anonymous, "3 Prime Factors in Adhesive Bonding of Plastics," Plastics Design and Processing, 8(6) 10-22 (June 1968). 

Polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl acetate copolymers (EVA, PVAC for low-cost adhesive bonding of plastics to wood, paper, leather, and metals)... 

Melt adhesives are based on thermoplastics, but usually contain a number of other components. The most commonly used melt adhesives are based on ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, but polyethylene, polyesters, polyamides, and thermoplastic rubbers (e.g., styrene-butadiene block copolymers) are also used (see Adhesive Bonding of Plastics in Chapter 2). 

The adhesive bonding of plastic assembly components such as instrument panels, spoilers, spare wheel boxes, roof parts, trim assembles, and fenders is generally with one- or two-component polyurethanes. Frequently, a primer is used as pretreatment to improve adhesion. Adhesive tape systems can provide good results for the bonding of dash panels, trim lines, insignia parts, and rear view mirrors, for example. 

Haberer, C., Adhesive Bonding of Plastics to Metal in the Automotive Industry, Science and Technology, Industry-University Short Course Program, CEI Europe, 1984, Chap. 11. 

Table 7.10 lists common recommended surface treatments for plastic adherends. These treatments are necessary when plastics are to be joined with adhesives. Specific surface treatments for certain plastics and their effect on surface property characteristics are discussed in Sec. 7.6. Details regarding the surface treatment process parameters may also be found in ASTM D-2093 and various texts on adhesive bonding of plastics. An excellent source of information regarding prebond surface treatments is the suppher of the plastic resin that is being joined. 

Wise, R.J. Ultrasonic welding of plastics by a Terfenol driven magnetostrictive transducer. Proc. 3rd Conf. on Welding and Adhesive Bonding of Plastic, Diisseldorf, Nov. 1992, pp. 10-12... 

Adhesive bonding is the most versatile of these joining processes, since all classes of plastics and other materials can be joined. Adhesive bonding of plastic involves several of the joining interactions previously described, depending upon the characteristics of the adhesive and the substrates being joined. 

Due to the huge variety of plastics and elastomers available and the wide range and types of adhesives on the market, there are quite understandably relatively few environmental test data available for the adhesive bonding of plastics. However, many of the rules that apply for the improved durability of the adhesive bonding of metals can also be applied to the bonding of plastics. 

An important variable of surface tension is temperature, which has practical value during the adhesion bonding of plastics. Surface tension of both adhesive and polymer is affected by temperature. Guggenheim s equation (Eqn (3.24)) is apphcable to liquids that have small molecules. It has also been found to be applicable to polymers. In this equation, 70 is surface tension at F = 0 K and Tc is the critical temperature (K) of the liquid. The values of 70 and... 

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