Thermoplastic Adhesive for Thermosetting Composites

Technique of including a thermoplastic film as the outermost layer of thermoset composites have been developed as an attempt to join the thermoset composites using fusion bonding methods. Special thermoplastic in the form of film was incorporated onto the surface of thermoset composites during co-curing process. Semi-Interpenetration Polymer Network [s-IPN] was formed between thermoplastic and thermoset polymers. The thermoset composites can be fusion bonded using co-consolidation and localized heating through their incorporated thermoplastic surfaces. The mechanical properties of thermoset composites bonded with thermoplastic adhesive were equivalent or superior to the benchmark composites bonded with Cytec FM300K adhesive in terms of lap shear strength, high temperature, low temperature and anti-chemical resistance.