Adhesive Bonding of Advanced Composites and Metals

This five-day course provides a foundation in the principles of adhesively bonded joints in advanced composite materials and metallic structures. Composite-to-composite solid laminate bonding and composite face sheet to honeycomb and foam core bonding, as well as aluminum skin and core bonding are three primary subjects that are thoroughly covered.

Commonly encountered problems in adhesive bonding of composites and aluminum are extensively discussed. Surface preparation techniques, curing methods and problems, and destructive and non-destructive testing techniques are also covered.

Actual test panels are prepared by the students. Different surface preparation techniques, adhesives, and curing methods are all tried. Deliberate contamination is introduced into some of the bondlines. Various methods of controlling bondline thickness are also used.

After curing, the test panels are subjected to destructive testing to determine their actual performance under load. Test results are then used to support additional lecture material on the lessons learned from the test data.

Adhesive bonding of aluminum is also covered, including a workshop exercise using the Boeing patented "Phosphoric Acid Containment System" (PACS) equipment. This equipment is now frequently being required in structural repair manuals for metal bonding repairs, including those using boron prepreg repair materials.

Abaris Training Resources, Inc., 5401 Longley Lane Suite 49, Reno, NV 89511. Tel: 775-827-6568; Fax: 775-827-6599.