Page 39 - Handbook of Adhesives and Sealants

An Introduction to Adhesives and Sealants 9

of scientific disciplines. Figure 1.3 illustrates the various academic dis-
ciplines that are relevant. The primary sciences of physics, mechanics,
and chemistry will overlap in certain areas to form the disciplines of
surface science, polymeric materials, and joint design that are impor-
tant to the science of adhesion. There are then further segments of
these sciences such as polymer rheology and fracture mechanics,
which are also highly relevant. Each of these specialized disciplines
has contributed significantly to the science of adhesion and to its re-
sulting stature in industrial products. The resulting overlap of all of
these disciplines could be referred to as the ‘‘science’’ needed to suc-
cessfully apply adhesives and sealants.
It is these various disciplines, and especially the areas where they
overlap, that provide the primary subject matter of this Handbook. In
today’s industrial environment, usually the person responsible for in-
tegration of adhesives or sealants into an assembled product must be
conversant with all of the relevant technologies. These are represented
by Fig. 1.3 and by the equally important areas of product design, man-
ufacturing, and economics. It is to this often over-burdened individual
that this Handbook is focused.

Physics

Surface Joint Design
Science
Science
of
Adhesion

Chemistry Mechanics
Polymeric
Materials

Figure 1.3 The science of adhesion requires the adaptation of multiple dis-
ciplines.