1. Main requirements and problems

Bonding reliability and durability

In the aeronautics sector, epoxy adhesives have been in industrial use for 50 years, ensuring reliable, durable bonding - performance figures that have been well known for several decades.

The only remaining problem, as with other types of adhesive and with composites themselves, is resistance to water and humidity, which can slowly migrate into the adhesive joint or the composite and cause delamination after 10 or 20 years, necessitating periodic inspection (see Composite bonding). Shipbuilding sector ).

Fatigue resistance

Fatigue resistance is excellent for both composites and adhesives. It should be remembered that structural adhesives (epoxies in particular) offer better fatigue...