Adhesive bond durability

Wedge Test. The adhesive bond durabilities of the Inhibitor-treated 7075-T6 surfaces were evaluated by wedge tests (ASTM D-3762) on bonded specimens using the FM 123-2 epoxy adhesive to simulate the epoxy primer. The specimens were placed In a humidity chamber at 65°C and 95% relative humidity and removed at specified time Intervals to record the crack tip locations after each examination, they were returned to the humidity chamber. 

W. J. Russell, R. Rosty, S. Whalen, J. Zideck, and M. J. Bodnar, Preliminary study of adhesive bond durability on 4340 steel substrates. Technical Report ARSCD-TR-81020, ARRADCOM, Dover, NJ, April 1981. 

In summary, there are a number of microscopic/spectroscopic experimental techniques, of which only a limited number have been discussed above, which are readily adaptable to the characterization of polymer/metal, fiber/matrix, and composite/composite adhesion. Indeed, basic questions in adhesion science such as the mechanism of adhesion, bond durability and the composition of failure surfaces, can be addressed experimentally today with increasing confidence due to the availability of these techniques. The author and his associates have summarized (6,11-13,22,25,2634,36-62) the results of the application of surface analysis to polymer/metal, fiber/matrix, and composite/composite adhesion on systems stuped at Virginia Tech. 

Keywords adhesion, adhesive bonding, surface treatment, corona treatment, flame treatment, chemical etching, surface tension, plasma treatment, pressure-sensitive adhesive, adhesive bond strength, adhesive bond durability. 

The adhesion of metal and ink to polymers, and the adhesion of paint and other coatings to metal, are of vital importance in several technologies. Aluminum-to-alu-minum adhesion is employed in the aircraft industry. The strength and durability of an adhesive bond are completely dependent on the manner in which the adhesive compound interacts with the surfaces to which it is supposed to adhere this, in turn, often involves pretreatment of the surfaces to render them more reactive. The nature and extent of this reactivity are functions of the chemical states of the adhering surfaces, states that can be monitored by XPS. 

Rider and Amott were able to produce notable improvements in bond durability in comparison with simple abrasion pre-treatments. In some cases, the pretreatment improved joint durability to the level observed with the phosphoric acid anodizing process. The development of aluminum platelet structure in the outer film region combined with the hydrolytic stability of adhesive bonds made to the epoxy silane appear to be critical in developing the bond durability observed. XPS was particularly useful in determining the composition of fracture surfaces after failure as a function of boiling-water treatment time. A key feature of the treatment is that the adherend surface prepared in the boiling water be treated by the silane solution directly afterwards. Given the adherend is still wet before immersion in silane solution, the potential for atmospheric contamination is avoided. Rider and Amott have previously shown that such exposure is detrimental to bond durability. 

The outer surfaces of these plasma polymers are terminated with hydroxyl groups and have high surface energies. They are readily wet by adhesives and form strong and durable adhesive bonds [51]. 

The primary challenge facing adhesive bonding of metals is to obtain sufficient durability of a bonded structure. Initial bond strength in metal-polymer adhesive joints is almost invariably excellent. Challenging the application of adhesives in polymer-polymer joining, however, is the problem of obtaining a joint that is... 

Because of their greater thickness, CAA oxides serve to protect the metal surface from corrosion better than thinner oxides but the important factor for bond durability is the stability of the outer oxide structure when water diffuses to the oxide-polymer interphase. Accordingly, it would be expected that the performance of CAA treated adherends would be similar, although no better, than that of PAA, or BSAA. The wedge test data shown in Fig. 20 and other work [29,77,97,98] support this and demonstrate that when these processes are done correctly the wedge test crack will be forced to propagate entirely within the adhesive. Similar arguments are likely with BSAA adherends, also. 

Other aspects of interfacial science and chemistry are examined by Owen and Wool. The former chapter deals with a widely used chemistry to join disparate surfaces, that of silane coupling agents. The latter chapter describes the phenomenon of diffusion at interfaces, which, when it occurs, can yield strong and durable adhesive bonds. Brown s chapter describes the micromechanics at the interface when certain types of diffusive adhesive bonds are broken. The section on surfaces ends with Dillingham s discussion of what can be done to prime surfaces for adhesive bonding. 

The final section in this volume deals with applications of adhesion science. The applications described include methods by which durable adhesive bonds can be manufactured by the use of appropriate surface preparation (Davis and Venables) to unique methods for composite repair (Lopata et al.) Adhesive applications find their way into the generation of wood products (Dunky and Pizzi) and also find their way into the construction of commercial and military aircraft (Pate). The chapter by Spotnitz et al. shows that adhesion science finds its way into the life sciences in their discussion of tissue adhesives. 

Finally, reports are available on the durability of adhesively bonded aluminium joints... 

Adhesives and sealers can be an important part of a total corrosion protection system. Structural bonding procedures and adhesives for aluminum, polymer composites, and titanium are well established in the aerospace industry. Structural bonding of steel is gaining increasing prominence in the appliance and automotive industries. The durability of adhesive bonds has been discussed by a number of authors (see, e.g., 85). The effects of aggressive environments on adhesive bonds are of particular concern. Minford ( ) has presented a comparative evaluation of aluminum joints in salt water exposure Smith ( ) has discussed steel-epoxy bond endurance under hydrothermal stress Drain et al. (8 ) and Dodiuk et al. (8 ) have presented results on the effects of water on performance of various adhesive/substrate combinations. In this volume, the durability of adhesive bonds in the presence of water and in corrosive environments is discussed by Matienzo et al., Gosselin, and Holubka et al. The effects of aggressive environments on adhesively bonded steel structures have a number of features in common with their effects on coated steel, but the mechanical requirements placed on adhesive bonds add an additional level of complication. 

Kinloch, A. J., Ed. "Durability of Adhesive Bonds", Applied Science Publishers London, 1983. 

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