Flash control metal bonding

摘要

A bonding method includes vacuum bagging a second metal plate atop a first metal plate, with a thermosetting adhesive in a lap joint therebetween covered in turn by a porous peel ply and a porous breather ply; the plates being initially clamped together by applying vacuum through the breather ply; and thermally curing the adhesive, with the breather and peel plies being preselected to capture adhesive seepage from the lap joint and removed with the plies to correspondingly reduce cured adhesive flash.

主权项

1. A method of bonding together first and second metal plates comprising:
supporting said first plate atop a corresponding mold; positioning said second plate atop said first plate, with a thermosetting adhesive therebetween to form a lap joint; vacuum bagging said second plate atop said first plate, with a porous peel ply applied directly atop both said first and second plates in a bridge therebetween covering said lap joint and a porous breather ply covering said peel ply; applying a vacuum through said breather ply to clamp said second plate atop said first plate; thermally curing said adhesive to bond said second plate to said first plate at said lap joint, with said breather and peel plies being preselected to capture adhesive seepage from said lap joint during said curing to correspondingly reduce cured adhesive flash exposed on said first plate; and removing said breather and peel plies from atop said first and second plates and removing therewith said captured adhesive seepage.