The Locus of Environmental Crack Growth in Bonded Aluminium Alloy Joints

Abstract
The locus of crack growth in epoxy/aluminium-alloy joints exposed to water at 60°C has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The surface pretreatment to which the aluminium alloy is subjected prior to bonding is shown to influence both the subsequent joint durability and the locus of crack growth.