What stress-strain behaviour can I expect adhesives to have?

TWI Frequently asked questions

by Anita Buxton

The mechanical properties of an adhesive are important selection criteria. It is usually advisable to select an adhesive with mechanical properties similar to the substrate material, in order to limit the mismatch in properties across the interface. The load experienced by the joint in service will also influence selection of the most desirable adhesive in terms of mechanical properties, as will the ability to perform other tasks in the system, for example, providing damping characteristics.

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