The Fundamentals of Adhesion, “The Development of FutureWrap!” Part 2

The strength of adhesion of a composite repair onto a damaged steel component is primarily due to the covalent bond formed between the epoxy resin and the carbon steel surface during curing of the resin. In the design of FutureWrap composite repairs to ensure as high as possible adhesion strength, these covalent bonds were enhanced by the use of a silane primer. In effect, the silane primer forms a stronger bond between both the epoxy resin and the carbon steel than the covalent bond between the epoxy resin and carbon steel. Another advantage of using a silane primer is that the long-term performance of the adhesion strength of the repair is improved as a consequence of this improved bonding. A further plus is that the effect of hydration, (if water permeates through the composite repair to the interface between the repair and the steel then it can break the covalent bond – this effect is termed hydration) is severely limited by the presence of the silane.

The adhesion strength of a composite repair is primarily due to the covalent bond formed between the epoxy resin and the carbon steel surface during cure. FutureWrap composite repairs use a silane primer to enhance these bonds to ensure as high as possible adhesion strength.

Professor Simon Frost .