Adhesive bonding of CFRP: a comparison of different surface pre-treatment strategies and their effect on the bonding shear strength

A promising joining technology for thermoset CFRP is adhesive bonding. However, the mechanical performance is influenced negatively by contaminants, like release agents, as well as an excess of matrix in the top layer. In order to generate most suitable surface qualities prior to the bonding process, carbon fibre reinforced plastics are treated with different – UV (355 nm) and IR (1064 nm) – lasers. The results are compared to commonly applied grinding surface preparation. The preliminary results on surface properties, e.g. energy and topography point towards high levels of free surface energy, as well as new originated surface structures. After the bonding process mechanical tests are subsequently carried out in Mode II, to characterize the final joint by its tensile shear strength. Finally, the individual fracture behaviour is examined in post mortem analysis. The results indicate that it is possible to increase the tensile shear strength of the joints to a maximum, which equals the interlaminar shear strength of the CFRP-laminate. Therefore, ultrashort pulsed IR-laser techniques show the best reproducibility and the highest tensile shear strength. In addition, IR-laser treatment is expected to have the highest potential for later applications.