Pull-off strength of thermoplastic fiber-reinforced composite coatings

Abstract

The paper aims at presenting the results of pull-off strength tests of fiber-reinforced polymer composite coatings laminated on steel substrates. It contains the measured data on the thickness of manufactured coatings and the substrate surface’s roughness, according to the various methods of surface’s preparation with the means of abrasive blasting. The microstructure analysis of material’s cross-sections and damage analysis of samples after failure were also performed. The highest pull-off strength’s values for composite coatings were obtained for joints with the substrate modified by abrasive blasting with corundum F60 or simply degreased. To establish the compatibility of substrates with coatings the wettability of the chosen materials was tested and work of adhesion was calculated on its base. Concerning the wettability, it was found that the most preferable joints were characterized by the similar thermodynamic work of adhesion and consisted of the coating’s matrix (SBS) and the steel substrate degreased with acetone or modified with corrundum abrasive blasting and then degreased.

Keywords:

• Laminates
• composite materials
• composite coatings
• pull-off strength
• wettability