Investigation of Parameters Affecting the Bonding Performance of Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Composites

The mechanical properties of different single lap joint configurations with different adhesive types, environmental conditions and bonding methods were investigated experimentally. Using M21/40%/285T2/AS4C-6K and M91/34%/UD194/IM7-12K carbon/epoxy prepregs as adherent, Solvay FM300K as film adhesive, and Loctite EA9394 as paste adhesive, eight different configurations of single-lap specimens (three configurations of environmental conditions as cold/dry, room temperature/dry and hot/wet, two configurations of adhesive as film and paste, and two configurations of bonding methods as co-bonding and secondary bonding) were manufactured for experimental studies. It was found that low and high temperatures and moisture effect negatively on shear strength, co-bonding method is better than secondary bonding, and film adhesive is more structural than paste adhesive.