Freeze, and Thaw Cyclic Exposures

FIGURE 5. Strength decay curves for 6061-T6 aluminum joints with varying surface pretreatments exposed to soak-freeze-thaw cycling weathering conditions. (From Reference 25.) 

where acid-etched joints declined 15% in strength in two years compared with only 20% in room-temperature water. 

The cyclic temperature-type exposures should especially be considered where dissimilar material adherends are bonded. In these situations the different coefficients of thermal expansion could impose significant additional stresses on the bondline. 

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