Adhesion of oil-covered substrates - Localisation and influence of oil on interphase formation.

Structural adhesives are increasingly being used in the automotive industry for bonding oil-contaminated steel. With an aim to study interphase format ion (substrate/oil/adhesive) during the curing process of the adhesive, a h eated ATR (Attenuated Total Reflectance) cell has been developed. This cell has been used to investigate interphase formation during the heating cycle for a system ATR crystal/industrial oil/model epoxy resin. As a result, a better understanding of the behaviour and localisation of oil in a structur al joint has been obtained. Our results point out the importance of chronol ogy in the phenomena of oil-elimination and curing within the interphase (t his chronology has a great influence on the mechanical properties of struct ural joints). The influence of oil formulation has been considered, as have the cure conditions. Finally, the potential perturbations of oil on the ki netics and mechanisms of interphase formation have been estimated and are d iscussed.