How acoustic cavitation can improve adhesion

► The use of power ultrasound into liquid adhesives. ► Significant improvements in wetting and bonding performance. ► Reliable adhesive bonding of contaminated structures is possible. In general, ultrasound is commonly used at low power level for non-destructive testing (NDT) and detection of delaminations in adhesive bonded structures. The present paper instead presents an approach where power ultrasound is used to improve interface formation prior to the bonding process and to ensure the quality of adhesive bonds by using acoustic cavitation in the liquid adhesive. Results from high-speed videos, rheological and thermal measurements and destructive testing of adhesive bonds with contaminated surfaces are presented and discussed. Power ultrasound can be used in general to improve adhesion and significantly to improve contamination tolerance and robustness of adhesive bonding processes.