Comparison of fracture behavior between acrylic and epoxy adhesives

An experimental study was conducted on the strength of adhesively bonded steel joints, prepared epoxy and acrylic adhesives. At first, to obtain strength characteristics of these adhesives under uniform stress distributions in the adhesive layer, tensile tests for butt, scarf and torsional test for butt joints with thin-wall tube were conducted. Based on the above strength data, the fracture envelope in the normal stress-shear stress plane for the acrylic adhesive was compared with that for the epoxy adhesive. Furthermore, for the epoxy and acrylic adhesives, the effect of stress triaxiality parameter on the failure stress was also investigated. From those comparison, it was found that the effect of stress tri-axiality in the adhesive layer on the joint strength with the epoxy adhesive differed from that with the acrylic adhesive. Fracture toughness tests were then conducted under mode l loading using double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens with the epoxy and acrylic adhesives. The results of the fracture toughness tests revealed continuous crack propagation for the acrylic adhesive, whereas stick-slip type propagation for the epoxy one. Finally, lap shear tests were conducted using lap joints bonded by the epoxy and acrylic adhesives with several lap lengths. The results of the lap shear tests indicated that the shear strength with the epoxy adhesive rapidly decreases with increasing lap length, whereas the shear strength with the acrylic adhesive decreases gently with increasing the lap length.     

Intensity of singular stress field (ISSF) variation as a function of the Young's modulus in single lap adhesive joints

Employing mixed adhesive joints has been proven to be very useful. This type of joint leads to improved performance by increasing strength and decreasing stresses in critical areas of the joint. In the same way, the use of the Intensity of Singular Stress Field (ISSF) has been shown to be suitable for adhesive joint calculation, since the adhesive strength can be controlled by the ISSF at the interface end. Four finite element models have been created by combining two epoxy adhesives with different mechanical properties, and therefore with different Young's moduli. New mixed adhesive joints have been compared with respect to only-one adhesive joints in terms of the ISSF. The results show a clear improvement with one of the configurations of mixed adhesive joints. A significant decrease of 35.64% in the ISSF is obtained compared to the only-one adhesive configuration.     

Three dimensional finite element analysis of bi-adhesively bonded double lap joint

Hybrid-adhesive joints are an alternative stress reduction technique for adhesively bonded joints. The joints have two types of adhesives in the overlap region. The stiff adhesive should be located in the middle and flexible adhesive at the ends. In this study, the effect of the hybrid-adhesive bondline on the shear and peeling stresses of a double lap joint were investigated using a three-dimensional finite element model. We developed a three dimensional model of the double lap joint based on solid and contact elements. Contact problem is considered to model the interface as two surfaces belonging to adherend and adhesive. Finite element analyses were performed for four different bond-length ratios (0.2,0.4,0.7 and 1.3). The results show that the stress components can be optimized using appropriate bond-length ratios. To validate the finite element analysis results, comparisons were made with available closed-form solutions. The numerical results were found in good agreement with the analytical solutions.     

New Developments in Structural Adhesives for the Automotive Industry

Recently developed epoxy paste adhesives, reactive hot melts, adhesive film tape and polyurethane adhesives are presented for structural bonding in the automotive industry. Paste adhesives usually require a precure stage to obtain handling strength of the joints and to guarantee wash-out resistance of the adhesive in the paint baths. This step can be omitted with reactive hot melts and adhesive film tape, which are solid before and after their application. In addition they allow an improved working hygiene. Some mechanical properties of the adhesives are shown such as lap shear strength and peel strength as well as lap shear strength as a function of the bondline thickness. Results of the excellent durability of epoxy one-component pastes, reactive hot melts and adhesive film tape are given from cyclic environmental and salt spray tests.     

Durability of Adhesive Bonds to Zinc-Coated Steels: Effects of Corrosive Environments on Lap Shear Strength

The effects of corrosive environments on adhesive bonds to electro-galvanized, zinc/aluminum alloy coated, coated electro-galvanized, and cold-rolled steels have been investigated. Bonds prepared using a rubber-modified dicyandiamide-cured epoxy adhesive, an epoxy-modified poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesive, an acrylic-modified poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesive a one-part urethane adhesive, and a two-component epoxy-modified acrylic adhesive were exposed under no-load conditions to constant high humidity or cyclic corrosion exposure for 50 days or 50 cycles (10 weeks) respectively.

Over the course of this study, exposure to constant high humidity had little effect on lap shear strength for any of the systems studied. Bond failures were initially cohesive, and with few exceptions remained so.

Bond strength retention under the cyclic corrosion exposure conditions employed was strongly dependent on adhesive composition and on substrate type. On galvanized substrates, lap shear strengths for the poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesives were reduced by 90–100% during the course of the corrosion exposure, and a change in the mode of bond failure (from cohesive to interfacial) was observed. On the coated electro-galvanized steel substrate, the poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesives showed about 50% retention in lap shear strength and a cohesive failure throughout most of the corrosion test. The dicyandiamide-cured epoxy adhesive used in this study generally showed the best lap shear strength retention to zinc-coated substrates; bonds to cold-rolled steel were severely degraded by corrosion exposure. The performance of the acrylic and urethane adhesives were intermediate to the dicyandiamide-cured epoxy and poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesives in strength retention.     

Durability of Adhesive Bonds to Zinc-Coated Steels: Effects of Corrosive Environments on Lap Shear Strength

The effects of corrosive environments on adhesive bonds to electro-galvanized, zinc/aluminum alloy coated, coated electro-galvanized, and cold-rolled steels have been investigated. Bonds prepared using a rubber-modified dicyandiamide-cured epoxy adhesive, an epoxy-modified poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesive, an acrylic-modified poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesive a one-part urethane adhesive, and a two-component epoxy-modified acrylic adhesive were exposed under no-load conditions to constant high humidity or cyclic corrosion exposure for 50 days or 50 cycles (10 weeks) respectively.

Over the course of this study, exposure to constant high humidity had little effect on lap shear strength for any of the systems studied. Bond failures were initially cohesive, and with few exceptions remained so.

Bond strength retention under the cyclic corrosion exposure conditions employed was strongly dependent on adhesive composition and on substrate type. On galvanized substrates, lap shear strengths for the poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesives were reduced by 90-100% during the course of the corrosion exposure, and a change in the mode of bond failure (from cohesive to interfacial) was observed. On the coated electro-galvanized steel substrate, the poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesives showed about 50% retention in lap shear strength and a cohesive failure throughout most of the corrosion test. The dicyandiamide-cured epoxy adhesive used in this study generally showed the best lap shear strength retention to zinc-coated substrates; bonds to cold-rolled steel were severely degraded by corrosion exposure. The performance of the acrylic and urethane adhesives were intermediate to the dicyandiamide-cured epoxy and poly(vinyl chloride)-based adhesives in strength retention.     

Experimental and numerical analysis of single lap bonded joints: Epoxy and castor oil PU-glass fibre composites

ABSTRACT

Currently, there is a growing concern for the environment. Several studies of new materials to reduce environmental impact have been carried out by different research groups, and many companies have replaced parts made of fossil sources by renewable materials. The use of polyurethane (PU) derived from castor oil as a matrix for composite materials and adhesives is one example. Hence, the present work aims to compare the numerical and experimental analyses of castor oil PU and epoxy resin not only as a matrix of composite materials, but also as an adhesive of bonded joints. The joint coupons were manufactured by using castor oil PU-glass fibre and epoxy-glass fibre as adherents, which were bonded by epoxy or castor oil PU. Thus, four combinations of adherents and adhesives were investigated. Specimens with identical geometry were used in all tests, which were based on guidelines for single lap bonded joints. Computational simulations via Finite Element Method were performed for predictions of the adhesive layer stresses and strength. In addition, a material model is proposed to predict the failure of the adhesive layer. The experimental and numerical results showed that PU derived from castor oil has good mechanical performance, making this material a feasible alternative for bonded joints, mostly nowadays when environment is a major concern.     

Experiments on the combined use of a double-sided pressure-sensitive tape and an epoxy adhesive to reduce handling time

In many industrial assemblies with structural adhesives, the handling time, i.e. the time to safely move adhesively bonded parts, may slow down manufacturing process and result into additional costs. For that reason, in some cases, the traditional mechanical connections (rivets, bolts, welds) are still preferable when the structure must be completed in a short time. In this work a new type of hybrid joint, characterized by the combined use of an epoxy adhesive and a double-sided pressure-sensitive tape, is proposed and characterized by experimental tests on single-lap joints with a large overlap. The results showed that these hybrid joints allow for reducing the handling time of the joint, preserving approximately the same strength. The proposed solution exploits the non-uniform stress distribution in the bondline of a single-lap joint, resulting in a low stress area at the centre of the overlap. The presence of an adhesive tape in this region produced either a negligible or minor drop (~20%) in strength depending on the epoxy used, while provided the joint with sufficient strength for being handled before the full cure of the epoxy.     

Influence of thread geometry on the performance of retaining anaerobic adhesives

The main aim of this work is to study the influence of the geometry of screws on torsion tests when they are retained with adhesives. The geometry of different types of screw threads has been studied, measuring theoretical and real length values to determine the stress undergone by the thread when tightened and/or retained by anaerobic adhesives. Three kinds of joints are subjected to a torsion test to determine their loosening torque. According to their torque, joint loosening load as well as generated stress can be calculated. When tightened, the real contact area is observed to be lower than the theoretical area, and real stresses are therefore higher than the theoretical ones. The same can be observed when only adhesive is applied; the real bonded area is lower than the theoretical, while higher real stresses than theoretical are observed. When adhesive and tightening are combined, the stress due to the influence of the adhesive is calculated, since the strength ratio attributable to either friction or adhesion remains unknown. These can only be determined through the measurement of real thread dimensions.     

Impact of multiwall carbon nanotubes on the fatigue strength of adhesive joints

This paper presents the results of research undertaken to determine the possibility of improving the fatigue properties of peel-loaded adhesive joints by dispersing multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into epoxy-based adhesives. The fatigue strength tests were carried out on an electromagnetic inductor with the resonance frequency of the adhesively bonded joint specimen. The tests were conducted for three types of epoxy adhesives whose properties were modified through the introduction of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, into their structure. Carbon nanotubes were synthesized by means of the Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) method with Fe-Co catalysts. A quantity of 1 wt.% of the dried material was dispersed into the epoxy adhesives. The results of the fatigue strength tests revealed a significant improvement of the fatigue lifetime of adhesive joints due to MWCNT introduction as filler for epoxy adhesives. In the case of the Epidian 57/PAC adhesive composition, a more than twofold increase in the fatigue lifetime was obtained (an increase of 106.8%). For the Bison Epoxy adhesive composition, the fatigue lifetime increased by 69.3%. The fatigue strength for the best result increased by about 13%.     

Failure behavior of adhesively bonded joints with a rubber modified epoxy adhesive under tensile-shear combined cyclic loading

Rubber-modified epoxy adhesives are used widely as structural adhesive owing to their properties of high fracture toughness. In many cases, these adhesively bonded joints are exposed to cyclic loading. Generally, the rubber modification decreases the static and fatigue strength of bulk adhesive without flaw. Hence, it is necessary to investigate the effect of rubber-modification on the fatigue strength of adhesively bonded joints, where industrial adhesively bonded joints usually have combined stress condition of normal and shear stresses in the adhesive layer. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of rubber-modification on the fatigue strength under combined cyclic stress conditions. Adhesively bonded butt and scarf joints provide considerably uniform normal and shear stresses in the adhesive layer except in the vicinity of the free end, where normal to shear stress ratio of these joints can cover the stress combination ratio in the adhesive layers of most adhesively bonded joints in industrial applications.

In this study, to investigate the effect of rubber modification on fatigue strength with various combined stress conditions in the adhesive layers, fatigue tests were conducted for adhesively bonded butt and scarf joints bonded with rubber modified and unmodified epoxy adhesives, wherein damage evolution in the adhesive layer was evaluated by monitoring strain the adhesive layer and the stress triaxiality parameter was used for evaluating combined stress conditions in the adhesive layer. The main experimental results are as follows: S–N characteristics of these joints showed that the maximum principal stress at the endurance limit indicated nearly constant values independent of combined stress conditions, furthermore the maximum principal stress at the endurance limit for the unmodified adhesive were nearly equal to that for the rubber modified adhesive. From the damage evolution behavior, it was observed that the initiation of the damage evolution shifted to early stage of the fatigue life with decreasing stress triaxiality in the adhesive layer, and the rubber modification accelerated the damage evolution under low stress triaxiality conditions in the adhesive layer.     

A Thermo-Mechanical Study of Some Epoxy Adhesives Subjected to Combined Dynamic and Static Stresses

The object of the present study was to investigate the effect of superimposed dynamic and static stresses on mechanical and thermal properties of some epoxy adhesives. It was found that combinations of shear creep and torsional oscillations, applied simultaneously to adhesive joints at temperatures within the glassy range of the adhesive, led to strengthening of the joints in shear and to an increase in the glass transition temperature of the adhesive. Similar loading stresses applied at temperatures close to the T_g of the adhesive, led to opposite effects on the above mentioned properties of the joints. The width of the glassy-rubbery transition of the adhesives increased, in the whole range of temperatures used in this study and for all epoxy compositions, as a result of subjecting the joints to superimposed dynamic and static stresses. The broadening of the glass transition was interpreted as a result of the stiffening of polymer network during the combined stressing experiments. A linear relationship was found between the area of endothermal peaks in the first DSC scan of specimens subjected prior to test to superimposed dynamic and static stresses at temperatures below T_g, and the shear strength of the joints. In agreement with this observation and with literature data, a linear relationship was revealed also between the glass transition temperature of the resins (measured in the first DSC scan) and the shear strength of the joints. Based on experimental observations and on some literature information, it was suggested that the strengthening of the joint, as well as the changes in thermal properties of the adhesives, are mainly due to physical processes, such as short-range orientation of network chains and an increase in intermolecular interaction between highly polar sites of the network. The possibility that superimposed stressing led to changes in chemical crosslinking was discussed but it seems that no such reactions occurred.     

Theoretical and experimental studies for the failure criterion of adhesively bonded joints

The objective of this work was to develop a criterion for predicting the failure strength of joints bonded by ductile adhesives. To obtain the criterion, first, fracture tests were carried out on T-peel joints and single-lap joints with various joint geometries, adhesives, and adherend materials. Then using the fracture loads obtained in the tests, a finite element analysis was performed by which the stresses in the adhesive joints were calculated. It is concluded that the failure of an adhesively bonded joint occurs when the maximum of the ratio of the mean to effective stresses exceeds a certain value, which can be considered a new material constant of a ductile adhesive.     

Effect of silicon carbide nanoparticles on the adhesion strength of steel–epoxy composite joints bonded with acrylic adhesives

This paper reports a study on the effect of silicon carbide nanoparticles on the adhesion strength of steel–glass/epoxy composite joints bonded with two-part structural acrylic adhesives. The introduction of nanosilicon carbide in the two-part acrylic adhesive led to a remarkable enhancement in the shear and tensile strength of the composite joints. The shear and tensile strengths of the adhesive joints increased with adding the filler content up to 1.5?wt%, after which decreased with adding more filler content. Also, addition of nanoparticles caused a reduction in the peel strength of the joints. DSC analysis revealed that Tg values of the adhesives rose with increase in the nanofiller content. The equilibrium water contact angle was decreased for adhesives containing nanoparticles. SEM micrographs revealed that addition of nanoparticles altered the fracture morphology from smooth to rough fracture surfaces.     

Analysis and design of adhesively bonded corner joints

In this study, the stress and stiffness analyses of corner joints with a single corner support, consisting of two plates, one of which plain and the other bent at right angles, have been carried out using the finite element method. It was assume that the plates and adhesive had linear elastic properties. Corner joints without a fillet at the free ends of the adhesive layer were considered. The joint support was analysed under three loading conditions, two linear and one bending moment. In the stress analysis, it was found that for loading in the y-direction and by bending moment, the maximum stresses occurred around the lower end of the vertical adhesive layer/ vertical plate interface; for loading in the x-direction, the maximum stresses occurred around the right free end of the horizontal adhesive layer/vertical plate interface. The effects of upper support length, support taper length and adhesive thickness on the maximum stresses have been investigated. Since the peel stresses are critical for this type of joint, a second corner joint with double corner support (i.e., one in which the horizontal plate is reinforced by a support that is an extension of the vertical plate) was investigated which showed considerable decreases in the stresses, particularly peel stresses. A third type of corner joint with single corner support plus an angled reinforcement member was investigated as an alternative to the previous two configurations. It was found that increasing the length and particularly the thickness of the angled reinforcement reduced the high peel stresses around the lower free end of the adhesive/vertical plate interface, but resulted in higher compressive stresses. In the stiffness analysis, the effects of the geometry of the joints, relative stiffness of adhesive/adherends and adhesive thickness were investigated under three loading conditions. For three types of corner joint, results were compared and recommended designs were determined based on the overall static stiffness of the joints and on the stress analysis.     

The Design of Double-Overlap Joints Using Thermoplastic-Fibre Composites

The present paper considers the adhesive bonding of thermoplastic fibre-composites using an epoxy-paste adhesive. The joint design used for these studies is a double-overlap geometry. Firstly, it is shown that to obtain good joint strengths the thermoplastic fibre-composite substrates need to be subjected to a corona surface treatment prior to bonding. Secondly, it is established that the use of tapered composite substrates and angled adhesive-fillets can substantially increase the joint strength. Indeed, the joint efficiency can approach 100% for such designs of double-overlap joints. Thirdly, finite-element analyses have been employed to study theoretically the various designs of joints, and the results from such analyses are in good agreement with the experimental measurements.     

Ageing of adhesively bonded joints—fracture and failure analysis using video imaging techniques

An investigation into the durability of adhesively bonded joints has been undertaken to help improve the prediction of joint lifetimes. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrates have been bonded with a two-part acrylic adhesive to make single lap-shear joints. Joints have been aged in a hot/wet environment (40°C and 95% humidity) with no applied stress for up to 4000 h and were tested in tension. The novel aspect of the research has been the development of a video imaging analysis technique which allows damage initiation and propagation within the joint to be detected as load is applied to the joint. Images of fracture initiation and damage propagation have been correlated with stress/displacement data for joints under tensile loading. The data from aged samples is compared with data from un-aged samples. Both the stresses at which damage is seen to initiate and the final failure stress of the joints decrease as the ageing time increases. The failure mode changes from cohesive failure within the PMMA substrate to failure within the adhesive, near the PMMA/acrylic adhesive interface.     

Analytical Peel Load Prediction as a Function of Adhesive Stress Concentration

Peel data for two epoxy adhesives and a recent model of the adhesive stresses in the peel geometry are used to investigate the effectiveness of two constitutive models and several adhesive failure criteria. The failure criteria are based on either the critical strain energy-release rate or the critical von Mises strain at the peel root, both taken as functions of the “loading zone length” (LZL), defined as a measure of the degree of stress concentration at the root of the peeling adherend. The peel model uses LZL as an independent parameter that captures the effects of the peel angle, adherend thickness, and the mechanical properties of the adhesive and adherend. Both the energy- and strain-based failure criteria can be used to predict the steady-state peel load with an average absolute error of less than 10% over the range of conditions that were examined.     

An Evaluation of Acrylic Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tapes for Bonding Wood in Building Construction Applications

Abstract

Wood connections made with high-performance pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes have significant promise for mitigating damage in buildings under high wind or seismic conditions. Benefits may include improved joint ductility and sealing protection from water-intrusion damage from hurricanes. In this work a series of connection tests were performed primarily on acrylic PSA tapes in accordance with ASTM D 1761-88 (2000). Performance results for PSA tape/wood joints are presented and trends examined for comparisons of commercial PSA tapes from three manufacturers. The results also provided implementation data on required application pressure levels and time duration, and comparisons with adhesive connection types. Specific parameters were discussed and examined using statistical methods to quantitatively determine performance gains or losses. The variables investigated included the use of oriented strand board (OSB) versus plywood sheathing, the effect of priming and surface sanding on adhesion, and a comparison of connections involving mechanical fasteners with those that utilized only adhesive tape or a combination of the two. Properly bonded OSB and plywood connections provided fairly ductile failure modes. The overall results of the study suggest that the International Building Code (IBC) ban on construction adhesives for shear walls in high seismic zones could be lifted for high-performance acrylic PSA tapes.     

The selection of adhesive used to bond polyvinyl chloride/wood flour composites

Bonding performances of five different adhesives to polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/wood flour composites (briefly referred to PVC-based wood-plastic composites (WPC) in this paper) were tested in this paper, in order to determine which adhesive was suitable to bond PVC-based WPC. The results showed that bonding properties of PVC-based WPC joint, bonded with epoxy adhesive were highest compared to the other adhesives used in this study. So epoxy adhesive can be chosen to bond PVC-based WPC and attain better bonding strength. But because epoxy adhesive was usually widely used as high-performance structural adhesive and its price was relatively high, the other alternative often was considered. Meanwhile the results in this study showed that J-39 acrylic adhesive has relatively better bonding to PVC-based WPC, so it was suggested that J-39 acrylic adhesive could be chosen to bond PVC-based WPC.