The role of talc particles in a structural adhesive submitted to fatigue loadings

The ability of structural adhesive to withstand combination of cyclic loading and service environment makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. It is nevertheless true that their mechanical and micromechanical behaviour is still little understood. The purpose of the work reported here is to study the fracture process and the role of talc fillers of an epoxy adhesive subjected to oligocyclic fatigue. Tests were conducted by using a set-up based on the Arcan fixture and experimental results have been reported for both tensile and shear cyclic loadings. The cohesive failure of the adhesive seems to set off at a specific amplitude level, whatever the loading value. By an incursion at the microstructural scale using scanning electron microscopy, we suggest an explanation of these phenomena. The foliated form of talc fillers are of major importance and seem to provide a deterministic evolution of damage.