STUDY OF THE INTRINSIC ADHESION BETWEEN A N EPOXY-RESIN AND STEEL

The energy of adhesion between an epoxy resin and a flexible steel has been measured using peel tests. The final degree of crosslinking was maintained constant (complete) but the polymer/steel contact time was varied. This assures constant mechanical (dissipative) properties of t he polymer but allows the study of adhesion as a function of the (pote ntial) degree of interfacial interaction. Analysis by DSC allowed moni toring of polymer crosslinking for different conditions of contact tim e and temperature. The main result is a master curve (straight line) e xpressing the effective energy of adhesion as a function of the fracti on of polymer crosslinking during contact with the steel. This suggest s the creation of chemical bonds at the interface.