Mechanical Properties of Transparent Epoxy Adhesives for Glass Structures

Abstract

Adhesive connections are commonly used in many industries as automotive, aerospace, electronics and also in civil engineering. Adhesives in civil engineering are used for non-load bearing structures but nowadays are requirements for using adhesive also for load- bearing structures especially for glass structures. Silicones are mostly used adhesives in civil engineering, they have good resistance to external environment but their lower strength and lower stiffness does not meet requirements for many applications. For this reason, are better semi-rigid or rigid adhesives but there is a lack of information about them. The paper is focused on experimental testing of transparent adhesive connection glass to glass. Four epoxy adhesives were chosen for double lap shear joint. Specimen were exposed to shear test until failure. Shear force and displacement were measured during test. Shear stress, elongation at break, shear modulus and failure mode were obtained from the tests. Only one epoxy adhesive had low adhesion to glass. Specimen with this adhesive had the lowest shear strength. Other three adhesives showed good adhesion to glass and had shear strength 6.5 times higher. Failure mode of specimen with these adhesives was always breaking of the glass.