George W Mann

US Patent:

57689369, Jun 23, 1998

Filed:

Jun 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/871507

Inventors:

George Mann - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

G01N 1908

US Classification:

73150A

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for testing the adhesive strength of a bond between an adhesive, a coating such as paint, or some other material, and an underlying substrate to which the test substance is bonded. The coating to be tested is applied atop the substrate in a smooth, continuous layer. An aperture is formed through the substrate and the test substance. A thin film patch is positioned atop an area of the test substance directly above the aperture. The film extends beyond the perimeter of the aperture and resides in contact with the test substance. The test substance is scored about the perimeter of the thin film patch. A thin plate which maintains its elastic property with only minor yielding during the test is bonded to the test substance by means of a layer of high-strength adhesive interposed between the plate and the test substance. The adhesive strength of the bond between the plate and the substance being tested must be greater than the bond between the substance being tested and the substrate. The test assembly thereby produced is clamped within a test fixture and pressure is applied through an aperture in the test fixture from the side of the substrate opposite the surface of the substrate to which the test substance is bonded.

US Patent:

55758681, Nov 19, 1996

Filed:

Jan 21, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/184429

Inventors:

George E. Mann - South Pasadena CA

International Classification:

B32B 3100

US Classification:

156 64

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and system for testing the adhesive strength of a bond between a coating or other material, or an adhesive tape, and an underlying surface or substrate to which it is bonded. The test may be performed at room temperature or in an environmental chamber at extreme conditions. In one embodiment an aperture is formed through the substrate and adhesive tape or a coating of paint is applied to the surface surrounding the aperture. A membrane, which approximately maintains its elastic property with only minor yielding during the test, is bonded to the paint or tape, the bond of the membrane to the paint or tape being stronger than the adhesion of the paint, or tape, to the substrate. Pressure is increasingly applied through the aperture, deforming the membrane away from the substrate until the critical pressure is reached and the bond between the paint, or tape, and the substrate fails. The adhesive strength, expressed as the specific work of debonding, is calculated using the critical pressure and a formula based upon constants inherent to the system.

US Patent:

56735863, Oct 7, 1997

Filed:

Nov 12, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/746496

Inventors:

George E. Mann - Pasadena CA

International Classification:

G01N 1908

US Classification:

73150A

Abstract:

A method and system are provided for testing the adhesive strength of a bond between an adhesive, a coating such as paint, or some other material, and an underlying substrate to which the test substance is bonded. The test may be performed at room temperature or in an environmental chamber at extreme conditions. An aperture is formed through the substrate and a thin film is employed to cover the aperture. The film extends beyond the perimeter of the aperture in contact with a first surface of the substrate. A coating of adhesive, paint, adhesive tape, or any other substance to be tested is then applied atop the film and the surrounding surface of the substrate in a smooth, continuous layer. A membrane which maintains its elastic property with only minor yielding during the test is bonded to the test substance, either directly or by means of a layer of high-strength adhesive interposed therebetween. The adhesive strength of the bond between the membrane and the substance being tested must be greater than the bond between the substance being tested and the substrate.

US Patent:

60266805, Feb 22, 2000

Filed:

Jun 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/343981

Inventors:

George E. Mann - South Pasadena CA

International Classification:

G01B 2108

US Classification:

73150R

Abstract:

A testing system provides a quantitative way of measuring the adhesive strength of adhesives, paints, coatings, adhesive tapes, and other test substances to underlying adherends and substrates, such as metals. The test system of the invention consistently produces uniform results. First and second adherends are bonded together over a relatively small area near the centers and are then pulled apart by a force applied at one end of one of the adherends. The force is increased until the second adherend member is debonded from the first throughout the test bonding zone, thus determining the total energy expended in debonding the first and second adherend members plus strain energy expended in displacing the second member from the first. The force is then decreased until there is no longer any displacement of the second member from the first while concurrently measuring the decreasing force and displacement of the second adherend member from the first adherend member as a function of the decreasing force. This determines the strain energy apart from the total energy.