Characterization of glass-epoxy adhesion using JKR methods and atomic force microscopy

The adhesion between an industrial-grade epoxy elastomer and a silanated gl ass surface was studied using the JKR (lohnson, Kendall and Roberts) techni que. Both short-term and longer-term interactions were monitored between th e two components. Different silane coupling agents and coating procedures a re applied to the glass surfaces, and their effects on the adhesion measure ments are investigated. The topography of the silanated surfaces was studie d using atomic force microscopy, and correlations were made with the JKR ad hesion data. An extensive error analysis was also conducted in an attempt t o extract the deterministic content of the data from experimental scatter. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.