Influence of Abrasion Treatments on Performance of Adhesively Bonded Glass/Vinyl Ester Single Lap Joints

f sanding treatments on Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composite with various grit sizes on the surface arithmetic average of the roughness profile, surface topography, liquid contact angle, and single lap joints shear strength was investigated in this research to improve the bonding characteristics of composites for future utilisation in structural adhesion applications. Scanning electron microscopy analysis was conducted to assess the fracture surface of the specimen post-testing. This work's primary objective was to compare the effectiveness of treated surfaces to untreated surfaces when it came to improving the adhesion quality of composites. A surface roughness tester was utilized to estimate the surface arithmetic average of the roughness profile. An atomic force microscope was utilised to analyse the morphology of the composite surface. The contact angle machine was applied to evaluate the liquid contact angle of the composite surfaces. The single lap shear joint test was used to assess the shear strength of composite bonded joints. The results of tests showed that the composite bonded joints' shear strength was maximum in specimens treated with a grit 800 sandpaper belt. These specimens had the lowest liquid contact angle and a consistent peak surface topography. Fibres were exposed at the composite's surface due to the sanding process. The bonded joints' shear strength and the composite's surface condition were impacted by the different grit sizes employed throughout the sanding process. Compared to untreated composite, sanding treatments utilising different grit sizes of sandpaper belts improved the composite's adhesive qualities. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that bonding occurs between adhesive and fibre in sanded specimens, whereas not in untreated specimens.