Surface Modification Using MAPLE Technique for Improving the Mechanical Performance of Adhesive Joints
Valentina Dinca,
Gabriela Toader,
Raluca Gavrila,
Oana Brincoveanu,
Adrian Dinescu,
Edina Rusen,
Aurel Diacon,
Alexandra Mocanu
Affiliations
Valentina Dinca
National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 409 Atomiștilor Street, 077125 Măgurele, Ilfov, Romania
Gabriela Toader
Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, 39-49 Blvd. George Coșbuc, Sector 5, 501410 Bucharest, Romania
Raluca Gavrila
National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies IMT, 126A Erou Inacu Nicolae Street, 077190 Bucharest, Romania
Oana Brincoveanu
National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies IMT, 126A Erou Inacu Nicolae Street, 077190 Bucharest, Romania
Adrian Dinescu
National Institute for Research and Development in Microtechnologies IMT, 126A Erou Inacu Nicolae Street, 077190 Bucharest, Romania
Edina Rusen
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Polizu Campus, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Sector 1, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Aurel Diacon
Military Technical Academy “Ferdinand I”, 39-49 Blvd. George Coșbuc, Sector 5, 501410 Bucharest, Romania
Alexandra Mocanu
Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Polizu Campus, 1-7 Gh. Polizu Street, Sector 1, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
The adhesive bonds that ensure the appropriate mechanical properties for metal joining imply the surface chemical and wetting modification characteristics of the substrates. In this work, matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) was used for the surface modification of Al via the deposition of two chemical compounds, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and triethanolamine (TEA), from frozen aqueous solutions. The deposition of the TEA and PVA layers was evidenced by FT-IR, SEM, and AFM analysis. The contact angle measurements evidenced the change in the hydrophilicity of the surface and surface free energies. The performance of the commercial silyl-based polymer adhesive Bison Max Repair Extreme Adhesive® was evaluated by tensile strength measurements. This method led to a change in tensile strength of 54.22% in the case of Al-TEA and 36.34% for Al-PVA compared with the control. This study gives preliminary insights into using MAPLE, for the first time in adhesive applications, as a pretreatment method for Al plates for adhesive bonding reinforcement.