Debonding on command of multi-material adhesive joints

In this work an innovative technique for multi-material adhesive joints debonding by combining the inductive heating method and the use of thermally expandable particles (TEPs) is presented. First, single lap joints (SLJs) using various combinations of adherends (high-strength steel (HS), aluminum (Al), and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP)) were fabricated and tested to assess the influence of TEP content on the lap-shear strength of the joints. Further, the ability of the TEP-modified joints to support temperature-controlled debonding was evaluated. It was shown that the control of debonding process by temperature is possible. The temperature needed for debonding is a function of TEP content and can be lowered by increasing the TEP content. Relatively similar debonding temperatures were found for multi-material/dissimilar joints debonding compared with similar joints, but more induction heating power is generally necessary to disassemble multi-material adhesive joints.