Influence of Adhesive Compound Viscosity on the Strength Properties of 1.0503 Steel Sheets Adhesive Joints

The presented study concerned the comparison of the adhesive joints strengths of 1.0503 carbon steel sheets of higher quality, which were made using adhesive compounds characterized by different viscosity index of the components. Three types of commercial epoxy resins were used: Epidian 5, Epidian 53 and Epidian 57, as well as two types of curing agents: polyamide (PAC) and amine (Z-1). The surfaces of the test specimens were subjected to a pre-treatment operation in the process of a mechanical machining with an abrasive coated tool of P320 gradation. The surface roughness measurements were carried out as a control. The single-lap adhesive joints were the subject of the strength testing. The strength tests carried out on a Zwick/Roell Z150 testing machine concerned the comparison of the strength of the adhesive joints loaded in shear. Statistical analysis was performed on the results obtained. It was observed, among others, that the adhesive joints prepared with the epoxy adhesive compounds containing the polyamide curing agent showed much higher the shear strength than the adhesive joints made with the epoxy adhesive compounds containing the amine curing agent. Moreover, the use of the polyamide curing agent in the adhesive compounds with the epoxy resins resulted in formation of a more elastic adhesive layer, for which higher elongation was observed than in the case of the epoxy compound with the amine curing agent.