Gluing
Compared to other joining processes, such as welding, bonding offers convincing advantages, but also disadvantages.
Advantages:
- Different material pairings can be joined
- Low thermal distortion (no or only low thermal stress on the material)
- Adhesive bonds can seal dust-tight, watertight and airtight (e.g. housing)
- Optionally electrically insulating or, in special cases, electrically conductive
- Bonding provides protection against contact corrosion
- Good appearance, no surface damage visible from the outside
- Even stress distribution, flat force transmission
- Vibration damping
- Weight saving due to lightweight construction, e.g. sandwich construction possible
Disadvantages:
- Relatively complex preparation required
- Lower peel strength, heat resistance and fatigue strength compared to riveting or welding
- Non-destructive testing of the connection is often difficult to implement and expensive
- Demanding requirements for the environment (e.g. dust-free) and implementation (e.g. adherence to time window)
- Correct choice and often pre-testing of the adhesive and surface pre-treatment required
- Surface pre-treatment usually required for bonding
- Ageing of the joint
- Observe environmental and occupational safety aspects, often hazardous substances
