US 6,282,950 B1 · Method and apparatus for testing the bond strength of materials

Abstract

A method and apparatus for testing the bond strength of materials such as a coating (101) on a substrate (100) wherein a stub (102) is placed on the coating (101) with a light curable adhesive (114) therebetween, the stub having a threaded section extending upwardly and being made of light transparent material, or a material that is at least partly transparent, a high intensity light (111) is positioned over the stub and operated to irradiate the adhesive through the stub to cure the adhesive, after which a force is applied to the stub in a direction normal to the coating tending to separate the coating from the substrate and is measured to determine the amount of force required. The apparatus includes a stand off ring (23) positioned around the stub for supporting cylinder housing (1) in spaced relationship to the coating, the housing having a cavity therein formed by inner (7) and outer (3) walls and a lower plate for receiving piston (9) therein retained by reaction plate (14). Adapter (24) is threadedly connected (27) (105) to stub (102) and extends through hole (108) in the cylinder housing and hole (13) in the piston and threadedly engages (25)(18) the reaction plate so that fluid pressure fed by pressure source (31) to compression chamber (29) compresses piston (9) against the reaction plate and the housing against the stand off ring to apply the force through the adapter and stub tending to separate the coating in the test area from the substrate. The force is measured by gage (32).

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for testing the bond strength of materials, comprising the steps of:

providing a sample consisting of a substrate having a coating bonded to a surface on said substrate;
providing a stub member that is at least partly transparent to light having a surface thereon to be affixed to a test area of said coating;
applying a layer of light curable adhesive between said surface on said stub and said test area;
irradiating said adhesive with light applied through said stub member to cure said adhesive and thereby affix said stub member to said test area;
applying a force to said stub member in a direction substantially normal to said coating for separating said coating from said substrate in said test area;
and
measuring the force required to produce said separation and to determine the strength of the bond between said coating and said substrate.

4 more elements

Apparatus for testing the bond strength of a material bonded to a substrate comprising:

a stub member of material that is at least partly transparent to light having a surface thereon attachable to a test area on said material being tested by a light curable adhesive;
light source means removably positionable in relation to said stub member and said adhesive for irradiating said adhesive through said stub member for curing and bonding said stub member to said test area;
piston and cylinder means connectable to said stub member for aplying a force to said stub member in a direction substantially normal to said test area;
adapter means for connecting said stub member to said piston and cylinder means;
fluid pressure means operatively connected to said piston and cylinder means for actuating said piston and cylinder means;
and
sensing means for sensing and indicating pressure applied to said piston and cylinder means by said fluid pressure means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for testing the bond strength of materials

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for testing the bond strength of materials

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15