Effects of different surface preparations on bonding properties of aluminium alloy EN AW-5754
Adhesive bonding is a well-established technique for joining materials. This article deals with the challenges of bonding metals, such as aluminium alloy EN AW-5754. To improve the strength of bonded joints, suitable surface preparation prior to bonding is essential. In this work, the surface of the aluminium alloy using three different epoxy adhesives was subjected to two different methods of surface preparation, such as laser cleaning and sanding by hand with sandpaper. The adhesion properties of the bonded surface were determined by measuring the surface roughness parameters (Ra and Rz) for different surface preparations as well as the mechanical property (tensile lap-shear strength). It was found that the bond strength of the aluminium alloy changed depending on the surface preparation and adhesive used, indicating that using the same adhesive and material with different preparation methods can lead to significant variations in bond strength. Therefore, choosing an appropriate surface preparation method that is suitable for the parts to be bonded and their surface roughness is crucial as it increases the strength of the bonded joints.