Influence of the temperature on the mechanical properties of a steel-noryl GTX single lap joint

The tensile behaviour of a metal-polymer adhesive junction has been determined experimentally between -40°C and +85°C and analysed by f.e.m., The difference of thermal linear expansion coefficients between steel and Noryl induces specific thermal strains. At 85°C, the drop of the modulus of the methacrylate adhesive makes it able to accommodate this difference of expansion. At -40°C the high value of modulus of both Noryl and methacrylate allows a comparison with a cooled bimetal strip as described by Timoshenko ; the high level of triaxiality of thermal stresses in the Noryl contributes to initiation of the rupture.