The MIT team used a combination of molecular simulations and laboratory tests in its assessment. The modeling was based on fundamental principles of molecular interactions, not on empirical data, Buyukozturk says. In the laboratory tests, the team controlled the residual stresses in a metal layer that was bonded and then forcibly removed, which revealed that moisture has a degrading effect.
The findings could lead to exploration of new ways to prevent moisture from reaching into the bonded layer, perhaps using better sealants. “I think this is going to be an important step toward assessment of the bonding, and enable us to design more durable composites,” Buyukozturk adds.
