On September 21 and 22, 2021, the 12th PhD student seminar on adhesive bonding technology took place. This year, 11 PhD students from seven universities and Fraunhofer institutes together with their professors and group leaders accepted the LWF's invitation to Paderborn. The LWF was represented by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerson Meschut and the research assistants Felix Beule, Nick Chudalla and Verena Aßmuth.
During the two-day event, the prospective PhDs presented their research topics related to adhesive bonding technology. Both basic research-oriented and application-relevant topics formed a balanced and interesting program. The doctoral seminar opened with two lectures on the subject of rapid curing of adhesives, including in artificial seawater. The first day was also devoted to monitoring the condition of bonded joints using polymer optical fibers and the use of microencapsulated thermoregulating phase change materials for use in adhesives.
The second day of the event opened with presentations on the modeling and simulation of bonded joints, including contributions on the delta-alpha effect, the numerically assisted thermographic investigation of bonded joints, service life prediction taking into account the influence of medium stress, and the long term strength of bonded steel joints under hygrothermo-mechanical loading. Furthermore, the afternoon session dealt with adhesive bonding applications in vehicle construction. In addition to investigations on the efficient loosening of bonded joints in vehicle maintenance, studies on elemental bonding in body construction using epoxy resin-based high-Tg adhesives were presented. The doctoral seminar was concluded with a presentation on the deposition of barrier layers on soft PVC by means of atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization for a long term stable, adhesion-friendly surface.
The lively discussions with the renowned experts during the two days generated valuable impulses for the further work of the doctoral students. In addition to the technical exchange, the focus of the event was on getting to know each other personally.
The event was financially supported by DECHEMA e. V.
The next doctoral seminar will be hosted by the Institute of Joining and Welding Technology at the Technical University of Braunschweig under the direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Dilger.
