Speaking Of Reliability: Friends Discussing Reliability Engineering Topics | Warranty | Plant Maintenance Adhesives
Apr 14, 2025
Kirk and Fred dive into the critical world of adhesives, highlighting reliability challenges in mechanical assemblies. They discuss issues like mismatched thermal expansion affecting bonds and the secrets behind encapsulation epoxies in microcircuits. Automotive applications are explored, particularly how adhesives handle extreme conditions and the importance of material compatibility. The duo also reveals the pitfalls of relying on adhesives as quick fixes, stressing the need for thoughtful engineering choices to ensure structural integrity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hot Tub Adhesive Failure
- Fred shared a hot tub panel story where adhesive failed due to daily thermal expansion cycles.
- Adhesive cracked because panels moved about half an inch, causing delamination over time.
Thermal Expansion Challenges
- Differential coefficients of thermal expansion cause shear stresses that weaken adhesive bonds.
- Matching materials' thermal expansions prevents stress concentration and bond failures.
Test Adhesives for Environmental Stress
- Test adhesive bonds with thermal cycling and expose them to vibration, shock, chemicals, and freeze-thaw.
- Consider all environmental factors that contribute to adhesive weakening.