Experimental analysis on the single-lap joints bonded by a nanocomposite adhesives which obtained by adding nanostructures

Especially findings from nanoscience and nanotechnology, which have progressed significantly in recent years, influence materials and mechanical sciences deeply as well as other disciplines. In this study, the failure loads of single-lap joints (bonding joints used in space, automotive and aerospace applications)bonded by a nanocomposite adhesive – obtained by adding nanostructure to the adhesive – were experimentally examined to increase the failure load of adhesively bonded joints. Adhesively bonded single-lap joints were produced using DP460 toughened adhesive type, DP270 rigid adhesive type and DP125 flexible adhesive type as the adhesives; AA2024-T3 aluminum alloy was used as the adherend, and Graphene-COOH, Carbon Nanotube-COOH and Fullerene C60 were used as the added nanostructures. Furthermore, to examine the effects of nanostructure reinforcement ratios in the adhesive at joint-failure load, three nanostructures with different ratios of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3% were added. As a result, when the experimental failure loads were examined, the nanocomposite adhesives obtained by adding nanostructure were found to have increased the load failure of the joint. However, increase rate in the failure load changes depending on the structural features of the adhesive and the type of nanostructure. Moreover, in the geometries of single-lap joints produced in this study, the best nanostructure reinforcement ratio, in terms of the failure load of the joint, was 1% percent by weight. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd