Strength and durability characteristics of aluminum joints bonded by rubber-modified and aluminum filled epoxy adhesive

The objective of this study was to develop information on the effects of moisture sorption and the filler content on the performance of aluminum joints bonded by rubber-modified and aluminum powder filled epoxy adhesive. Water and fluid immersion tests were utilized to determine the moisture sorption behavior of rubber-modified and aluminum filled epoxy adhesive under complete immersion in distilled water and NaCl solutions. The durability of the adhesive bonded metal joints was investigated by measuring the joint strength by the single lap shear test before and after exposure to three environments: distilled water, sea water and atmosphere.; Moisture diffusion tests show that salt concentration of the exposure solution affects the maximum amount of moisture absorbed by epoxy type A with no rubber content (Lord 309). The lighter the concentration of NaCl solution, the less diffusant absorbed by that adhesive. On the other hand, there appears to be no significant effect of solution salt content on the maximum amount of moisture absorbed by epoxy type B with 40 wt% rubber content (RA-840). (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...