Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: “Structural Adhesives for Similar or Dissimilar Materials”

Dear Colleagues,

In the field of metal joining, structural adhesives are becoming increasingly significant as an alternative or complement to traditional methods such as welding, soldering, and mechanical fastening. Adhesive bonding enables the effective joining of similar and dissimilar metallic materials, offering advantages such as weight reduction, improved stress distribution, and the ability to bond heat-sensitive metals without the need for thermal processes.

The versatility of adhesives allows for their application in various industries, including the automotive, aerospace, naval, electronics, and construction industries, where metallic materials play a central role. Unlike welding, which can lead to thermal distortion or metallurgical changes in metal substrates, adhesive bonding provides a method for maintaining the integrity and properties of metals, especially in challenging environments.

An additional advantage of structural adhesives is their ability to bond metallic materials to composites, a process that is not always feasible with traditional techniques and often requires additional steps, such as drilling for mechanical fasteners. Adhesive bonding eliminates the need for these processes, simplifying the joining of dissimilar materials while maintaining the structural integrity of both components.

Despite its growing use, adhesive bonding of metals presents unique challenges. The performance of an adhesive joint in metallic applications is influenced by several factors, including surface preparation, environmental conditions, and the specific types of stresses that act on the bond (e.g., tensile, shear, or peel stresses). For metals, factors such as corrosion resistance, fatigue behavior, and compatibility with surface treatments are critical in determining the long-term durability of the bond.

There are four main mechanisms by which adhesives bind to metal surfaces:

• Chemical adhesion: formation of chemical bonds between the adhesive and the metal surface;
• Mechanical interlocking adhesion: penetration of the adhesive into microscopic surface irregularities;
• Diffusion adhesion: molecular interdiffusion at the adhesive­–metal interface;
• Electrostatic adhesion: attraction forces between electrically charged surfaces.

The selection of adhesives for metal bonding is particularly critical for structural applications, where high shear strength and resistance to environmental degradation are essential. Structural adhesives, including epoxies, acrylics, and polyurethanes, offer the necessary strength and durability to serve as alternatives to traditional welding or riveting in metal-to-metal and metal-to-other-material applications.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements in structural adhesive technology, with a focus on bonding metallic materials. Topics of interest include new adhesive formulations for metals, methods for improving metal surface preparation, comparative studies of adhesive bonding versus welding or soldering in metals, and the impact of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity on adhesive performance. Studies addressing the durability, fatigue resistance, and corrosion behavior of adhesive bonds in metal applications are especially welcome.

Prof. Dr. Aleksander Lisiecki
Dr. Guido Di Bella
Guest Editors

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