Methodology for evaluating the mechanical performances of a bonded assembly through complementary mechanical tests

Bifunctional polymers have been studied as bonding layers (BL) on aluminum surfaces to promote adhesion of adhesives for structural bonding applications. The BL are located at the interface between the aluminum substrate and the adhesive. The mechanical performances of the BL in a bonded assembly were evaluated via several complementary mechanical tests, before and after ageing cycle: single lap shear, Arcan test, three-point bending test, and micro-scratch. The results of these four mechanical tests were compared with those of a raw reference (without any treatment) and a reference that had undergone standard surface preparation (cleaning and etching), in order to assess the mechanical performances of the surface treatment products (BL), and to value these products on the surface treatment market. In order to follow a methodology for selecting the best surface treatments, the mechanical results were compared with each other, and even correlated for samples with bonding layers (containing phosphorus and carboxylic acid functions). The correlation of the results obtained from the four mechanical tests (single lap shear, Arcan, three-point bending, and micro-scratch tests) therefore makes it possible to validate the methodology for evaluating these surface treatments.