Surface Energy and Adhesion in Composite–Composite Adhesive Bonds

Authors: Dillingham, R. G.; Oakley, B. R.

Source: Journal of Adhesion, Volume 82, Number 4, April 2006 , pp. 407-426(20)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $56.94 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

In the absence of weak boundary layers, surface energy can be an excellent indicator of the suitability of a fiber-reinforced composite surface for adhesive bonding. Mechanical surface treatments such as grit blasting are effective and commonly used to prepare composite surfaces, but the roughness introduced by these treatments makes quantification of the surface energy by contact angle methods difficult. This paper shows that the diameter of a small drop of a low-viscosity fluid chosen to have surface tension characteristics very similar to the adhesive can be used as an effective predictor of adhesive bond fracture energy. This technique could form the basis of a sensitive quality assurance tool for manufacturing.

Keywords: Adhesive bonding; Composite materials; Quality assurance; Surface energy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00218460600683944

Affiliations: 1: Brighton Technologies Group, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Publication date: 2006-04-01