| Abstract: | This paper describes the specific 'T'-type peel mode in the case of a metal/polymer/metal sheet sandwich and gives experimental results on the influence of plastic deformation in the metallic substrates on the peel energy. We propose an experimental method of carefully determining the peel energy of a metal-polymer interface in a sandwich structure. Based on the mechanical properties of the stainless steel substrates and the maximum curvature of the metallic sheet measured experimentally during the peel test, several expressions for the clastoplastic deformation energy of the metal substrates are given. It is noteworthy that the curvature of the metal substrate layers depends not only on the mechanical properties of the material, but also on the work necessary to overcome the interfacial or cohesive forces. It is shown that even for thin metallic substrates (0.1 mm thick stainless steel), the work absorbed by the deformation represents roughly 50% of the total measured energy. During peeling the same specimen at different rates, the propagation peel force is higher or lower than the initiation force depending on the previous curvature of the metal sheets. |
