Mode-I adhesive fracture energy of carbon fibre composite joints with nanoreinforced epoxy adhesives

The effect of the addition of carbon nanoreinforcements to an epoxy adhesive on the strength and toughness of carbon fibre/epoxy composite joints was studied. The laminate surfaces, treated with peel ply, were characterised by profilometry, image analysis and wettability. The mechanical properties of the joints were determined by lap shear testing and double cantilever beam testing. The fracture mechanisms were studied by scanning electron microscopy.The addition of carbon nanofibres and carbon nanotubes caused an increase in the mode-I adhesive fracture energy, G_IC, of the joints while their lap shear strengths remained approximately constant. This improvement in the fracture behaviour was attributed to the occurrence of toughening mechanisms when carbon nanoreinforcements were added to the epoxy adhesive. Additionally, the use of carbon nanotubes improved the interfacial strength between the adhesive and the substrate, changing the crack growth behaviour and the macroscopic failure mode.     

Investigation of optimal surface treatments for carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints

Although an adhesive joint can distribute the load over a larger area than a mechanical joint, requires no holes, adds very little weight to the structure and has superior fatigue resistance, but it not only requires a careful surface preparation of the adherends but also is affected by service environments. In this paper, suitable conditions for surface treatments such as plasma surface treatment, mechanical abrasion, and sandblast treatment were investigated to enhance the mechanical load capabilities of carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints. A capacitively coupled radiofrequency plasma system was used for the plasma surface treatment of carbon/epoxy composites and suitable surface treatment conditions were experimentally investigated with respect to gas flow rate, chamber pressure, power intensity, and surface treatment time by measuring the surface free energies of treated specimens. The optimal mechanical abrasion conditions with sandpapers were investigated with respect to the mesh number of sandpaper, and optimal sandblast conditions were investigated with respect to sandblast pressure and particle size by observing geometric shape changes of adherends during sandblast process. Also the failure modes of composite adhesive joints were investigated with respect to surface treatment. From the peel tests on plasma treated composite adhesive joints, it was found that all composite adhesive joints failed cohesively in the adhesive layer when the surface free energy was higher than about 40 mJ/m², because of high adhesion strength between the plasma treated surface and the adhesive. From the peel tests on mechanically abraded composite adhesive joints, it was also found that the optimal surface roughness and adhesive thickness increased as the failure load increased.     

Hygrothermal ageing of an epoxy adhesive used in FRP strengthening of concrete

The efficiency of strengthening of deteriorating concrete through the external bonding of prefabricated fiber reinforced composite strips to the concrete substrate depends on the durability of the adhesive. In this application, adhesives can be exposed to water and salt water, as well as alkali solution resulting from the permeation of water through concrete. This paper presents the results of a durability program designed to study the effects of ageing and environment on the durability of a typical adhesive used in external bonding, through characterization of moisture uptake and cure and investigation by dynamic thermal mechanical analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile testing. It is seen that the adhesive shows two‐stage diffusion with primary deterioration taking place in the first phase. Exposure to moisture is seen to cause plasticization and decreases in performance characteristics. The decrease in glass transition temperature due to hygrothermal ageing is such that the level is very close to the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) recommended value of the wet glass transition temperature being at least 30°F higher than the maximum operation temperature. Overall, the effect of salt solution exposure is seen to have the least effect, whereas exposure to concrete based alkali solution has the greatest deteriorative effect. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Aerogel/epoxy thermal coatings for carbon fibre reinforced plastic substrates

The present work studies an aerogel/epoxy composite that was dip coated onto a carbon fibre substrate by adding the aerogel at the 1?h and the 1.5 mark of the epoxy cure. Both coatings show decrease in thermal conductivity values (39% and 47% respectively) when compared to a pure epoxy coating. The coatings’ reflectance spectra also provided further evidence for the existence of the nano-pores within the aerogel particles. The aerogel coating was modelled using material properties from literature and solved using finite element methods. The model, which validated using experimental data, was then used to predict the coating’s performance in cyclic thermal loads. Additionally, coatings on a single surface- top and bottom; were also modelled and compared with the double coating system wherein it was seen that the double coating system had the lowest rate of temperature change and fluctuations at steady-state in contrast to the bottom coating which, showed the fastest drop in temperature as well as the highest fluctuations at steady state conditions. The performance of the top coating was in the middle.     

Effect of reinforcements at different scales on mechanical properties of epoxy adhesives and adhesive joints: a review

Improvement of the mechanical properties of adhesives and adhesive joints has been a subject of great interest in recent years. Up to now, several methods have been presented such as modifying substrate shapes, adding microparticles (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs), and embedding micro and macrofibers in the adhesive layer. This review aims to investigate how these reinforcements of different scales in the adhesive layer influence the mechanical properties of adhesive joints and adhesives. Characteristics and applications of reinforcements are introduced in the first part. In the second part, the effects of several parameters commonly investigated by researchers on the strength, stiffness and fracture toughness improvement of polymeric materials are reviewed for reinforcements of different scales. Finally, damage mechanisms involved in increasing or decreasing the mechanical properties are reviewed and discussed.     

Study of ageing of adhesive bonds with various surface treatments: Part VI. Dicyandiamide-cured epoxy joints aged at 70°C in a water bath

Adhesive-bonded aluminium/dicyandiamide-cured epoxy joints prepared using two different surface treatments, a silica/siloxane and an etched only process, were exposed at 70°C to moisture and their ageing behaviour was studied using broadband dielectric spectroscopy and destructive mechanical tests. The dielectric measurements allow the uptake of moisture and changes in the nature of the surface oxide and pre-treatment to be monitored. Both sets of joints exhibited almost similar changes in their dielectric spectra as a function of exposure time to moisture; small differences being attributed to the influence of the pre-treatment on the moisture absorption behaviour. Changes in the mechanical properties as a result of exposure to moisture were monitored via lap-shear tests. Detailed electron microscopic examination of the surfaces indicated that after prolonged exposure to moisture changes in the physical state of the pre-treatment and oxide layer were observed. Small differences were observed in the dielectric data between the two pre-treatments and are a consequence of the differences in the extent and nature of the oxide to hydroxide conversion and hydration of the surface treatment which occurs on exposure to moisture. Further evidence for the nature of the change that occurred was obtained using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the fracture surfaces. One side of the fractured joint was predominantly resin irrespective of the exposure conditions. The other fracture surface had a more metallic appearance but was covered by a nitrogen-containing organic material with high oxygen content. Predominantly, the initial changes observed in the mechanical strength of the joints are consistent with the plasticization of the adhesive in the joint. The effects observed after prolonged period of exposure to moisture are consistent with an increased contribution from inter-facial failure to the loss of the mechanical properties. The losses in mechanical properties are less dramatic than would be anticipated considering the mild nature of the surface treatments used and the severity of the exposure conditions.     

Toughening effect of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibres in epoxy adhesives for joining carbon fibre laminates

The effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibres (CNFs) on mode I adhesive fracture energy (G_IC) of double cantilever beam (DCB) joints of carbon fibre-reinforced laminates bonded with an epoxy adhesive has been studied. It was observed that the presence of carbon nanofillers in the epoxy adhesive results in a significant increase in the propagation value of mode I adhesive fracture energy with CNTs producing the largest increase. The toughening mechanisms, analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), for the two nanofiller systems differed: pull-out with CNFs, and pull-out and crack bridging with CNTs. At the macroscopic level there was also a change in the failure mode, with an increased proportion of delamination occurring in the nanoreinforced joints in comparison with the unreinforced. Two different surface treatments were also applied to the laminates: grit blasting and atmospheric plasma. The highest fracture energy was obtained in the grit blasted joints.     

环氧树脂胶黏剂在石墨粘接接头的热分解动力学

引言 与传统的铆接、螺栓连接工艺相比,粘接技术因具有操作灵活、简便、生产效率高、生产成本低等优点,而广泛用于化工、汽车、航空、航天等现代结构工程,在工程设计和制造领域的应用持续增长[1-3].     

Mode II fracture energy in the adhesive bonding of dissimilar substrates: carbon fibre composite to aluminium joints

The end-notched flexure (ENF) test calculates the value of mode II fracture energy in adhesive bonding between the substrates of same nature. Traditional methods of calculating fracture energy in the ENF test are not suitable in cases where the thickness of the adhesive is non-negligible compared with adherent thicknesses. To address this issue, a specific methodology for calculating mode II fracture energy has been proposed in this paper. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed method, the fracture energy was calculated by the ENF test for adhesive bonds between aluminium and a composite material, which considered two different types of adhesive (epoxy and polyurethane) and various surface treatments. The proposed calculation model provides higher values of fracture energy than those obtained from the simplified models that consider the adhesive thickness to be zero, supporting the conclusion that the calculation of mode II fracture energy for adhesives with non-negligible thickness relative to their adherents should be based on mathematical models, such as the method proposed in this paper, that incorporate the influence of this thickness.     

Nanoscale toughening of carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites through different surface treatments

Interests in improving poor interfacial adhesion in carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites has always been a hotspot. In this work, four physicochemical surface treatments for enhancing fiber/matrix adhesion are conducted on carbon fibers (CFs) including acid oxidation, sizing coating, silane coupling, and graphene oxide (GO) deposition. The surface characteristics of CFs are investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, interfacial shear strength, and interlaminar shear strength. The results showed that GO deposition can remarkably promote fiber/matrix bonding due to improved surface reactivity and irregularity. In comparison, epoxy sizing and acid oxidation afford enhancement of IFSS owing to effective molecular chemical contact and interlocking forces between the fiber and the matrix. Besides, limited covalent bonds between silane coupling and epoxy matrix cannot make up for the negative effects of excessive smoothness of modified CFs, endowing them inferior mechanical properties. Based on these results, three micro‐strengthening mechanisms are proposed to broadly categorize the interphase micro‐configuration of CFRP composite, namely, “Etching” “Coating”, and “Grafting” modifications, demonstrating that proper treatments should be chosen for combining optimum interfacial properties in CFRP composites. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:625–632, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Chemical interactions between the carbon fibre surface and epoxy resins

Surface oxides on various carbon fibres were determined after modified oxidation treatment with nitric acid. Improved wetting was investigated by contact angle measurements.The results of these systematic studies are correlated with the mechanical properties of UD-composites, prepared from the matrix precursors with which the wetting experiments have been performed.A possible mechanism of the bonding between epoxy matrix precursors and reinforcing fibres was determined by contact angle measurements, by surface tension measurements and by chemical analysis of the chemisorpted diamine hardener.     

Durability of carbon fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone–polyurethane adhesive joints in aqueous environments

Abstract

As part of a project to develop a biomimetic artificial joint, it was necessary to bond carbon fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone (APC2) to thermoplastic polyurethane. As no qualified adhesives were available, adhesive bonding using hot compression moulding was the chosen methodology. The human body is one of the most aggressive environments that an adhesive bond has to endure. The durability of these APC2–polyurethane joints has been investigated in various aqueous environments including Ringer's solution and distilled water. Prior to bonding, the APC2 specimens were exposed to plasma etching and oxidising flame surface treatments to improve adhesion properties. Peel testing revealed that strong and durable bond strengths were recorded and no aging effects were observed when the adhesive joints were stored in a dry atmosphere for 1 year. However, when stored in the aqueous media the bonds rapidly deteriorated to unacceptable levels after 7 days. It was found using a variety of techniques including mass uptake analysis, surface force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, that the primary mechanism of bond degradation was due to ingression of water by wicking and diffusion.     

Microtensile bond strength of composite-to-composite repair with different surface treatments and adhesive systems

Objectives: The purpose was to investigate the effect of different surface treatments and bonding agents on the repair bond strength of different resin-based restorative materials by microtensile bond strength (μTBS) testing protocol. Materials and Methods: 24 Grandio SO(VOCO) and 24 Filtek Z250(3?M) resin composite blocks were prepared. Half of the samples (N?=?12) were diamond bur-roughened and the other half (N?=?12) were sandblasted by 50?μm aluminum oxide particles. They were further divided into four sub-groups (n?=?3) and received the following: Sub-Group1: Adper Single Bond2 (Etch&Rinse) (3?M); Sub-Group2: Clearfil SE (Self-etch) (Kuraray); Sub-Group3: Beauty Bond (HEMA-free all-in-one) (Shofu); Sub-Group4: All Bond3 (HEMA-free, hydrophobic, etch&rinse) (Bisco). The samples were repaired by Filtek Z250 to form a block. All of the resultant sub-groups combinations consisted of one of the composite type, surface treatment type, and adhesive systems. A total of 18 groups were prepared including 2 homogeneous blocks. They were thermocycled and μTBS measurements were performed. Data were statistically analyzed with Kruskall–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. Results: The experimental regroups’ μTBS reached to 34.67–66.36% and 43.44–95.52% of the cohesive bond strength for Grandio SO and Z250, respectively. The pre-existing composite type is found to be statistically important. When the surface is bur-finished Grandio performed better; when air-abrasion is considered Z250 showed higher bond strength. All-in-one adhesive system produced the weakest bond strength at all parameters. Conclusion: It may be suggested that when the pre-existing composite is unknown, air-abrasion may be performed with etch&rinse or two-step self-etch adhesives.     

The effect of primers on adhesive properties and strength of adhesive joints made with polyurethane adhesives

The paper presents selected aspects of the effect of primers on adhesive properties and strength of aluminium sheet adhesive joints, made using polyurethane adhesives. The strength of adhesive joints was determined based on two cure time variants: 15 and 64 h. It was found that the longer cure time at a humidity of 33% is more desired, as it leads to a substantial increase in strength of the tested adhesive joints. In addition, two variants of surface preparation were applied: degreasing and degreasing followed by the application of a primer (a pro-adhesive agent). It was observed that the primer application prior to the application of an adhesive leads to a significant increase in strength compared to the variant where the adhesive application is preceded only by degreasing. Moreover, the aluminium sheet surface that was subjected to cataphoretic painting and priming exhibits better adhesive properties. It has a higher value of both surface free energy and its dispersion and polar components compared to the surface that was only subjected to degreasing.     

Strength and bonding characteristics of adhesive joints with surface-treated titanium-alloy substrates

This paper presents a study on the effect of surface treatments on the mechanical behavior of adhesively bonded titanium alloy joints. Several different treatments were selected for the preparation of Ti-6Al-4V alloy faying surfaces, and bonded joints were fabricated using surface-treated titanium alloy substrates and a film adhesive. Tensile tests were performed on single-lap specimens to evaluate the joint strength and to assess the failure mode, i.e. cohesive failure, adhesive (interfacial) failure or a mix of both. Contact angle measurements were also carried out, and the surface free energies of titanium alloys and the thermodynamic works of adhesion for the adhesive/titanium alloy interfaces were obtained. A three-dimensional finite element analysis was used to predict the strength of the specimens exhibiting cohesive failure. In addition, an expression of the relationship between the joint strength corresponding to interfacial failure and the thermodynamic work of adhesion was introduced based on the cohesive zone model (CZM) concept. It is shown that two surface treatments, Itro treatment and Laseridge, lead to cohesive failure and a significant increase in the joint strength, and the numerically predicted strength values are fairly close to the experimental values. These surface treatments are possible replacements for the traditional surface treatment processes. For degreasing, emery paper abrasion, atmospheric plasma treatment, sulfuric acid anodizing, nano adhesion technology and high-power lasershot, the specimens fail at the adhesive/substrate interface and the joint strength increases linearly with the thermodynamic work of adhesion as expected from our CZM-based expression.     

Strength prediction of adhesively bonded carbon/epoxy joints

A finite element approach has been used to obtain the stress distribution in some adhesive joints. In the past, a strength prediction method has not been established. Therefore in this study, a strength prediction method for adhesive joints has been examined. First, the critical stress distribution of single-lap adhesive joints, with six different adherend thicknesses, was examined to obtain the failure criteria. It was thought that the point stress criterion, which has been previously used for an FRP tensile specimen with a hole, was effective. The proposed method using the point stress criterion was applied to adhesive joints, such as single-lap joints with short non-lap lengths and bending specimens of single-lap joints. Good agreement was obtained between the predicted and experimental joint strengths.     

Numerical study of the effect of carbon fiber/epoxy resin adhesive thickness on the creep behaviour of carbon steel plate joints

Nowadays, the use of adhesive and adhesively bonded joints have been considerably appreciated in the industry due to the dramatic reduction in bonding strength, reduced stress concentration, rust prevention, uniform bonding of the bonding surface and a significant reduction in costs compared to other types of permanent joints such as welding. In this study, the effect of adhesive thickness on creep behaviour of a single lap adhesive joint with the aid of Abaqus FEM software is investigated. It should be noted that the two-layer and two-dimensional models are considered, in which their adhesive layer is made of a reinforced epoxy resin with 0.5% carbon fiber and the adherend layers are made of carbon steel plates, which is affected by tensile forces. Since the main purpose of this paper is to study the effect of adhesive thickness on the adhesive joints behaviour, the effects of the distribution of shear stress, effective stress and creep strain were studied in different thicknesses of the adhesive layer. The results show that by increasing the thickness, the stress and the creep strain decrease, and over time, the stress decreases and the creep behaviour of adhesives increases.     

Effect of carbon nanotubes on the strength of adhesive lap joints of C/C and C/C-SiC ceramic fibre composites

Similar substrates of carbon/carbon (C/C) and carbon/carbon-silicon carbide (C/CSiC) composites were bonded with pure epoxy resin and the one containing 3% multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The results show that MWCNT/filled epoxy resin bonded C/CC/C and C/CSiCC/CSiC substrates have a higher adhesive joint strength than those bonded with epoxy resin alone. MWCNTs increase the toughness and strength of the epoxy resin, which increases the interface bond strength between two similar matching surfaces.     

Functional interphases with multi-walled carbon nanotubes in glass fibre/epoxy composites

The interphase between reinforcing fibre and matrix is a controlling element in composite performance. We deposited multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto electrically insulating glass fibre surfaces leading to the formation of semiconductive MWCNT-glass fibres and in turn multifunctional fibre/polymer interphases. The deposition process of MWCNTs onto glass fibre surfaces involved both electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and conventional dip coating methods. The EPD coating method produces a more homogeneous and continuous nanotube distribution on the glass fibre surface compared with the dip coating. According to fragmentation test results, the interphase with a small number of heterogeneous MWCNTs in the EPD fibre/epoxy composites, mimicking a biological bone structure, can remarkably improve the interfacial shear strength. We found that the semiconductive interphase results in a high sensitivity of the electrical resistance to the tensile strain of single glass fibre model composites. This material provides a possible in situ mechanical load sensor and early warning of fibre composite damage.