Environmental degradation of the interfacial fracture energy in an adhesively bonded joint

The mixed mode flexure and notched coating adhesion tests have been carried out in order to characterise interfacial fracture for a range of environmental exposure conditions and to find a meaningful interfacial strength parameter using a fracture mechanics approach. The moisture uptake of the adhesive was accelerated using an open-faced configuration. The critical loading to cause interfacial fracture was measured and was used in conjunction...