Electrolytically assisted debonding of adhesives: An experimental investigation

The technology of electrically assisted delamination has potential applications in many fields, such as easy-to-open consumer packaging and recycling of lightweight materials. A better understanding about the mechanisms leading to debonding is important for further development of the technique, and is a goal of this study. A functional epoxy-based adhesive, applied between two aluminum foils, has been investigated using electrochemical and surface analytical techniques. Delamination occurred at the anodic adhesive boundary, which became acidic during polarization. The reactions during polarization of the laminates consisted of two steps, with aluminum oxide/hydroxide formation as the first and the build-up of a sulfur rich organic film as the second. Several possible debonding processes are discussed.