The metal fastener was bonded to PP composite. Under tests the bond reached tensile bond strength reaching 7MPa. The bond remained intact but the composite substrate failed and remains firmly attached to the surface of the metal fastener.
PowderBondPP® is delivering impressive results in its evaluation by bigHead Fasteners Ltd for bonding polypropylene composite to metal. These results confirm that the strength of the metal-PP bond achieved by PowderBondPP surpasses any current adhesive-based methods.
PowderBondPP is an innovative bonding method, developed by Powdertech Surface Science to address the known shortcomings in current polypropylene-to-metal bonding systems. With no need for an adhesive or composite surface preparation it is a lean manufacturing process, quick and simple. bigHead Lean Bonding® process capability offers a fast, clean and reliable way to bond fasteners onto composites and metal substrates. Bonding to thermoplastics, such as PP, is one area that the company is researching and PowderBondPP is being assessed a means of extending the company’s Lean Bonding capability to include polypropylene (PP) composite.
PowderBondPP demonstrates tensile bonds strengths greater than 10MPa, and lap shear strengths above 15MPa. James Grant, Director, Powdertech Surface Science said, “In developing PowderBondPP the key criterion was strength of the bond. Yes, we were looking for a cleaner, simpler and faster method than traditional adhesive application, but none of these benefits would mean anything if the bond itself was not strong and reliable. The rigorous tests underway with the bigHead team are a valuable independent verification of PowderBondPP’s strength and reliability.”
bigHead fastener surface covered in composite from the failed substrate.
Composite surface showing where the fastener was attached.