Thermal non-linear elastic stress analysis of an adhesively bonded T-joint

Adhesive joints consist of adherends and an adhesive layer having different thermal and mechanical properties. When they are exposed to uniform thermal loads the mechanical-thermal mismatches of the adherends and adhesive layer result in uniform but different thermal strain distributions in the adhesive and adherends. The thermal stresses arise near and along the adherend-adhesive interfaces. The present thermal stress analyses of adhesively bonded joints assume a uniform temperature distribution or a constant temperature imposed along the outer boundaries of adhesive lap joints. This paper outlines the thermal analysis and geometrically non-linear stress analysis of adhesive joints subjected to different plate edge conditions and varying thermal boundary conditions causing large displacements and rotations. In addition, the geometrically non-linear thermal stress analysis of an adhesively bonded T-joint with single support plus angled reinforcement was carried out using the incremental finite element method, which was subjected to variable thermal boundary conditions, i.e. air streams with different temperatures and velocities parallel and perpendicular to its outer surfaces. The steady state heat transfer analysis showed that the temperature distribution through the joint members was non-uniform and high heat fluxes occurred inside the adhesive fillets at the adhesive free ends. Based on the geometrically non-linear stress analysis of the T-joint bonded to both rigid and flexible bases for different plate edge conditions, stress concentrations were observed at the free ends of adhesive-adherend interfaces and inside the adhesive fillets around the adhesive free ends, and the horizontal and vertical plates also experienced considerable stress distributions along outer surfaces. In addition, the effect of support length on the peak thermal adhesive stresses was found to be dependent on the plate edge conditions, when a support length allowing moderate adhesive stresses was present.     

Application of a new modified epoxy adhesive for bonding fluorine rubber to metal

Adhesion of fluorine rubber to metals is an important issue. The aim of this work was to develop a new kind of adhesive for bonding fluorine rubber to metals. A new modified epoxy adhesive containing a special tackifier resin obtained from polysulfones with a high heat deflection temperature (HDT) was prepared. Study on the curing behavior of the adhesive was carried out. Properties of the adhesive and the effects of several main factors were studied by gelation time test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The optimum amount of the tackifier resin was found to be 50 phr; the average tensile lap shear strength could be achieved to a level of 8–10 MPa. Infrared attenuated total reflection (IRATR) spectroscopy indicated that the tackifier resin accelerated the establishment of epoxy resin adhesion to steel, and also promoted bonding and vulcanization of fluorine rubber. Easy diffusion of cyanamide (decomposition compound of dicyandiamide (DICY) in the curing process) into epoxy resin and fluorine rubber facilitated the dissolution and reaction of DICY, and also promoted formation of complex bond between fluorine rubber and adhesive, hence an enhanced adhesion of fluorine rubber to metal was achieved.     

Preparation and Properties of a Waterborne Contact Adhesive Based on Polychloroprene Latex and Styrene-Acrylate Emulsion Blend

Environmental protection and legislative pressure to eliminate the use of solvents in the adhesive industry have inspired the search for safer alternatives. In the area of contact adhesives, the waterborne route has proved to be of particular interest. Based on the synergistic effect of polychloroprene latex and styreneacrylate emulsion, a waterborne contact adhesive consisting of polychloroprene latex (PCL) and styreneacrylate emulsion (SAE) blend has been developed. In order to blend PCL with SAE easily and to accelerate the drying rate of the adhesive, boric acid was chosen for use in the PCL/SAE blend system. Effects of boric acid and SAE content on the properties of PCL/SAE blends, such as pH value, storage stability and set time, were investigated. At the same time, the effect of SAE content on the mechanical properties of PCL/SAE blend films was studied. The morphology of blend films was characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy. The adhesive performance of the waterborne contact adhesive was evaluated by peel and shear tests. The results showed that when the waterborne contact adhesive formulation contained 40 wt% styrene-acrylate emulsion (dry weight) and 1.25 wt% boric acid, it had a good shelf-stability, its set time was 5 min, and the blend film with this formulation was ductile and flexible with reasonably good tensile strength and very high elongation at break. And the blend films showed structure with a sea–island morphology. The waterborne contact adhesives derived from PCL/SAE blends were found to be comparable to the commercially available solvent-based contact adhesives. The synergistic effect of polychloroprene latex and styrene-acrylate copolymer emulsion was also discussed.     

Photoelastic thermal stress measurements in scarf adhesive joints under uniform temperature changes

This study deals with the investigation of thermal stresses and delamination growth in scarf joints under a uniform temperature change by photoelastic measurements and a two-dimensional finite element analysis. The adherends were fabricated from aluminum plates, and an adhesive layer was modeled and fabricated from an epoxide resin plate. The adherends and the epoxide resin plate were bonded using a heat-setting and one-component-type adhesive. The adhesive was cured at 85 °C and cooled down to room temperature. The thermal stress was then generated in the scarf joint under a temperature change and measured by photoelasticity. After the scarf joints were cooled in a stepwise manner, the delamination growth, which initiates from the edge of the interface, was measured. It was found that the delamination initiates from the edge of the interface with the acute angle side and it never initiates from the edge with the obtuse angle side. When the scarf angle is 90°, i.e. in adhesive butt joints, the resistance against the delamination is minimal. The thermal stresses in the scarf joints with a thin adhesive layer were also analyzed. It was found that the thermal strength increases as the adhesive thickness decreases. The stress singularity near the edge of the interface was calculated from the stress distributions in the joints with different scarf angles. As a result, it was found that the stress singularity in the scarf joints under thermal loads is quite different from that under static tensile loads.     

Durable adhesives for large laminated timber

Large laminated timber (LT) made of hardwood is widely used as the main constitutional element of goods such as furniture, pianos and doors. A high durability of LT is essential to these products. This study focused on finding as to what adhesives were acceptable as highly durable adhesives for LT. Twelve different adhesives such as resorcinol-formaldehyde resin, aqueous emulsion-type isocyanate resin, poly(vinyl acetate) emulsion, epoxy resin, etc. were used. The durability of LT, i.e., the percentage of delamination length of LT under tests such as humidity and temperature cycling tests, and outdoor tests, was discussed in relation to the adhesive shear strength of a lap joint (LJ). The results showed that the percentage of delamination length under both low ?20°C for 16 h and high-temperature 50°C for 8 h cycling tests (temperature-resistance) on LT indicated a strong trend with the adhesive shear strength of the LJ exposed to dry air at 100°C for 24 h. In addition, the percentage of delamination length under outdoor exposure test for three months (outdoor-resistance) of the LT showed a trend with the adhesive shear strength of the LJ exposed to dry air at 100°C for 24 h, as well as with the adhesive shear strength of the LJ immersed in water at 60°C for 3 h. These trends pointed out that the thermal stability of the adhesive from ?20°C for 16 h up to 50°C for 8 h was an important parameter in order to improve adhesive durability for the LT.     

Mode-I adhesive fracture energy measurement with modified single-lap joint test geometry

The adhesive fracture energy or fracture toughness of adhesively-bonded joints comprising carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composite substrates and three different types of adhesives was detemined using a modified single-lap joint (MSLJ). This joint was made by implanting end pre-cracks in the adhesive layer at the center of the bondline of a conventional single-lap joint (SLJ). This modification ensured that the crack propagated from a sharp starter crack from both ends of the overlap during testing, reducing the effect of spew fillets on the measured adhesive fracture toughness scatter band. The MSLJ specimens were tested to failure and the adhesive fracture energy was calculated using the Kinloch–Osiyemi model. The values of the adhesive fracture energy obtained from the MSLJ tests were compared with those from SLJ and the double-cantilever beam (DCB) test geometries. The fracture energy values obtained from the MSLJ specimens were significantly lower than those from SLJ specimens and agreed well with those from DCB specimens. The three differenent types of aerospace grade film adhesives tested were Redux 322, Redux 335K and Redux 319A.     

Different surface modifications produced by oxygen plasma and halogenation treatments on a vulcanized rubber

The surface modifications of a synthetic vulcanized styrene-butadiene rubber (R1) using a chemical treatment [halogenation with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCI)] and a treatment with oxygen plasma were compared. Treatment of R1 rubber with 2 wt% TCI produced greater surface modification than the oxygen plasma and the modification was extended over a thicker region of the rubber when it was treated using TCI. The degree of oxidation obtained with only 1 min of oxygen plasma treatment was greater than that obtained by chlorination with different amounts of TCI. This agreed with the improved interaction among polar groups evaluated from the higher acid–base contribution to the surface energy of the oxygen plasma-treated R1 rubber surface. However, higher T-peel strength values and more noticeable cohesive failure in the rubber were obtained for joints produced with chlorinated R1 rubber than for those produced with oxygen plasma-treated R1 rubber, due to the creation of a less rough and weaker oxygen plasma-treated surface.     

Adhesion characteristics of plasma surface treated carbon/epoxy composite

The load transmission capability of adhesive joints can be improved by increasing the surface free energy of the adherends with surface treatments. In this paper, suitable plasma surface treatment conditions for carbon/epoxy composite adherend were investigated to enhance the strength of carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints using a capacitively coupled radio-frequency plasma system. Effects of plasma surface treatment parameters on the surface free energy and adhesion strength of carbon/epoxy composite were experimentally investigated with respect to gas flow rate, chamber pressure, power intensity, and surface treatment time. Quantitative chemical bonding analysis determined with XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) was also performed to understand the load transmission capabilities of composite adhesive joints with respect to surface treatment time.     

Adhesion characteristics of carbon/epoxy composites treated with low- and atmospheric pressure plasmas

Although an adhesive joint can distribute load over a larger area than a mechanical joint, requires no holes, adds very little weight to structures and has superior fatigue resistance, it requires careful surface preparation of adherends for reliable joining and low susceptibility to service environments. The load transmission capability of adhesive joints can be improved by increasing the surface free energy of the adherends with suitable surface treatments. In this study, two types of surface treatment, namely the low pressure and the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, were performed to enhance the mechanical load transmission capabilities of carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints. The suitable surface treatment conditions for carbon/epoxy composite adhesive joints for both low and atmospheric pressure plasma systems were experimentally investigated with respect to chamber pressure, power intensity and surface treatment time by measuring the surface free energies of the specimens. The change in surface topography of carbon/epoxy composites was measured with AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) and quantitative surface atomic concentrations were determined with XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy) to investigate the failure modes of composite adhesive joints with respect to surface treatment time. From the XPS investigation of carbon/epoxy composites, it was found that the ratio of oxygen concentration to carbon concentration for both low and atmospheric pressure plasma-treated carbon/epoxy composite surfaces was maximum after about 30 s treatment time, which corresponded with the maximum load transmission capability of the composite adhesive joint.     

Improvement of adhesion and electrical properties of reworkable thermoplastic conductive adhesives

The adhesion and electrical properties of a PAE-2-based isotropically conductive adhesive (ICA) material were investigated. PAE-2 (thermoplastic polymer)-based ICAs, as well as a commercial epoxy-based ICA, showed dramatic reduction in adhesion to a NiAu surface after the 85°C/85% RH aging test, while the adhesion to a SnPb surface did not change much. To improve the adhesion strength of PAE-2 to a Ni:Au surface after the humidity aging test, coupling agents and epoxy blends were used. The formulation with a higher amount of epoxy showed a higher adhesion strength. The combined use of epoxy blending and coupling agents was effective in increasing the adhesion strength of PAE-2 before aging and also in maintaining adhesion at a 50% level after humidity aging. However, its adhesion strength to NiAu was reduced to less than 50% after 85°C/85% RH aging. PAE-2-based ICAs showed excellent reworkability.