Commercial Aircraft Composite Repair

Although the acrylate adhesives are readily available and studies have shown that they can produce reasonable bonding properties, they have the disadvantages of having high shrinkage, high fluid absorption, and low service temperatures. Acrylate adhesive applications would be limited. The development of EB-curable epoxy adhesives would have applications in the aerospace and automotive industry and potential wider uses. The most immediate application for these resin systems is composite repair of commercial and military aircraft. 

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. 

Seidl, A.L., Repair of Composite Structures on Commercial Aircraft, 15th Annual Advanced Composites Workshop, Northern Cahfomia Chapter of SAMPE, 27 Jan. 1989. 

---