Process variable effect on the strength of autoclave-bonded film adhesive joints

This study investigates the effect of five independently-controlled process variables and variable combinations on the shear strength of autoclave-bonded film adhesive joints. Studied variables include the cure temperature, cure pressure and their respective ramp rates, as well as the duration of cure time. A full factorial design of experiment (DoE) at two levels for each variable is conducted with 3 replicas of each test. Test coupons are made of two layers of polycarbonate lexan that are autoclave-bonded using aliphatic polyether film adhesive (Huntsman PE399). Two set of test joints are used for generating test data on shear strength and failure mode. Bonded joints in the first set are tested prior to any environmental cycling, in order to generate baseline data on joint shear strength and failure mode. However, samples from the second set of autoclave-bonded joints were heat-cycled, in an environmental chamber at high relative humidity, prior to testing for shear strength. Test data on shear strength and failure mode is statistically analyzed using ANOVA.