Aluminium Design and Construction John Dwight
Aluminium Design and Construction John Dwight
Aluminium Design and Construction John Dwight
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cartridge, <strong>and</strong> mixing takes place automatically in the correct ratio as<br />
the gun is operated, by means of a special nozzle. On some jobs, it may<br />
be more convenient to employ a spatula, for both mixing <strong>and</strong> application.<br />
After use, equipment should be cleaned with hot water <strong>and</strong> soap before<br />
residues have had time to cure <strong>and</strong> harden.<br />
3.6.6 Clamping<br />
It is obviously important to prevent any relative movement of the parts<br />
until an adequate degree of curing has taken place, the time involved<br />
being a function of the adhesive used (Section 11.4.10). The necessary<br />
clamping can often be simplified by suitable design, as for example by<br />
using a tongue-<strong>and</strong>-groove detail between mating extrusions. The<br />
clamping technique may be important in controlling the glue-line thickness.<br />
3.6.7 Curing<br />
Two-component adhesives can be satisfactorily cured at room temperature,<br />
although this tends to be slow. For a faster cure, the assembly may be<br />
warmed, typically in the range 40–80°C, <strong>and</strong> this has the added advantage<br />
of increasing the strength. A radiant heater, electric blanket or hot-air<br />
blower may be employed for the warming, which can be controlled<br />
with the use of temperature-sensitive paper. Refer to Figure 11.17 for<br />
the variation of cure time with temperature for six selected adhesives.<br />
One-component adhesives are cured by heating the assembled job in<br />
an oven, the necessary time being a function of the temperature, which<br />
typically lies in the range 120 to 180°C.<br />
3.7 PROTECTION AND FINISHING<br />
3.7.1 General description<br />
The reason for specifying a surface finish on aluminium is either protection<br />
against corrosion, or else appearance. Possible finishes are anodizing<br />
(Section 3.7.3) <strong>and</strong> painting (Section 3.7.4). There are two essential ways<br />
in which aluminium can corrode, both of which are discussed in Chapter<br />
4 (Section 4.7):<br />
1. General corrosion of an exposed surface. In the great majority of installations,<br />
an aluminium surface can be left unpainted, in its as-supplied millfinish<br />
state. Such corrosion as may occur will not threaten the structure.<br />
Situations that dem<strong>and</strong> a protective finish are defined in Section 4.7.2.<br />
2. Corrosion due to contact with certain other materials. This may lead to<br />
serious attack on the aluminium <strong>and</strong> early failure. Suitable precautions<br />
are essential.<br />
Copyright 1999 by Taylor & Francis Group. All Rights Reserved.