An experimental study on composite adhesives reinforced with different types of organo-clays

In this study, the mechanical properties of single lap joints prepared by adding nanoclays with different properties into adhesives with different characteristics (toughened, flexible, paste-type, and rigid) were experimentally investigated. Single lap joints and bulk specimens were produced using DP460, DP125, Araldite 2015, and AV138 as adhesives. High-concentration hydrocarbon-doped organo-clay (HDOC-1) obtained from Cankiri, low-concentration hydrocarbon-doped organo-clay (HDOC-2) obtained from Erzurum, and organo-clay (OC) were incorporated into the adhesives as reinforcements at two different concentrations (1% and 2% wt.). The aluminum alloy AA2024-T3 was used as the adherend material. Evaluation of experiment results showed that both the characteristics of the adhesive (toughened, flexible, paste-type, and rigid) and the different forms of clays significantly influenced failure loads of the joints. Moreover, increasing or decreasing the amount of clay added into the adhesive also affected failure loads of the joints; 1% wt. reinforcement provided the best results.