Kinetics of adhesive contact formation between thermoplastic melts and solid surfaces: Effect on bond strength

Formation of an adhesive contact between a polymer melt (or solution) and r einforcing fibers is considered from the viewpoint of kinetics. A two-stage model of this process has been proposed, and an expression for the interfa cial bond strength as a function of time and temperature is derived. Experi mental data on bond strength in adhesive joints between thermoplastic polym ers and reinforcing fibers formed under various conditions were obtained, a nd the concept of activation energy was used to analyze them. Since the pro cess is controlled by the stage having the larger activation energy, the ad hesive contact formation between fibers and polymer solutions is governed b y the rate of adhesive bonding, whereas that between fibers and polymer mel ts is governed by the rate of the melt spreading.