1. Interest and comparison of gluing with other assembly methods

Bonding is used to assemble materials, which may be of very different kinds. It competes with other assembly processes, such as welding, riveting or screwing [1][2] . The latter processes ensure permanent assembly (welding) or disassembly by screwing, riveting or stapling. Such connections can also be made using a variety of adhesives. Likewise, gluing can be permanent, for example for assembling car body parts or airframe tails, while others are removable, such as adhesive memory aids (post-it ^® ).

However, adhesives have their own specific characteristics and mode of action. Mechanical joining processes involve drilling holes in the opposing materials to be joined,...