Properties of adhesive joint of inorganic nano-filler composite adhesive

Abstract

The characteristics of adhesive joints of aluminium sheet containing epoxy based composite adhesives containing nano-filler of ZrO₂ powder have been studied. The composite adhesives containing 10, 15 and 20wt.% of about 20±3 nm size ZrO₂ powder are applied to mechanically treated aluminium substrates. The single lap 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 of filler. The characteristics of the composite adhesive joint have been compared to those of the conventional epoxy adhesive joints. The bond-line thickness of the adhesive with respect to the amount of the ZrO₂ nano-filler has been optimised for maximum tensile single lap shear strength of the adhesive joint of mechanically treated aluminium substrate. In comparison to conventional epoxy adhesive joints, the nano-filler epoxy based adhesive joint of aluminium shows significantly improved lap shear strength as a function of bond line thickness of adhesive and amount of filler in it.