Tests on irradiated Araldite 2020 adhesive

The purpose of the tests was to study the radiation effects on the ultimate shear strength of Araldite 2020 adhesive in order to validate the use of the adhesive in the CMS outer tracker. The test pieces consisted of three water jet cut carbon fibre plates bonded together. The test pieces were exposed to the radiation doses of 1 MGy and 3 MGy. The pieces were stressed in the material test bench in such a way that the adhesive carried a shear load. The ultimate strength was found to be independent of the dose.