Characteristics Of Adhesive Joints Of Metals Using Inorganic Particulate Composite Adhesives

The characteristics of adhesive joints of similar sheets of aluminium and steel containing epoxy based particulate composite adhesives have been studied. The composite adhesives having particulate fillers as aluminium and alumina powders of varying amount (5-15wt.%) and size (75-84 to 0.8-1.2 mm) are applied to mechanically and chemically treated aluminium and mechanically treated steel substrates. The joints of the composite adhesive are characterized by their tensile lap shear strength as a function of the bond-line thickness as well as the amount, size and type of particle. For a given substrate the characteristics of the composite adhesive joint have been compared to those of the conventional adhesive joints. The bond-line thickness of the adhesive with respect to the amount and size of the aluminium and alumina particles has been optimised for maximum tensile shear strength of the adhesive joint of differently treated substrates.