Method and arrangement for pre-curing an adhesive layer

Abstract

The invention provides a method for pre-curing an adhesive layer bonding a first component to a second component. The adhesive layer is heated by treating an adhesive layer component as heating the first component with a pair of electrodes that are in electrical contact with a surface of the first component, the pair of electrodes applying a predetermined electrical current (I 1 , I 2 ) to the first component. The invention further provides an arrangement for pre-curing a layer of adhesive.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An arrangement for pre-curing an adhesive layer, comprising:
 a bonded structure having a first component bonded to a second component by means of the adhesive layer; and   a device comprising a pair of electrodes that is in electrical contact with a surface of the first component, the pair of electrodes being adapted to apply a predetermined electrical current (I 1 , I 2 ) to the first component in order to heat the adhesive layer by treating an adhesive layer component.   
     
     
         17 . The arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein the pair of electrodes are adapted to apply a first electrical current (I 1 ) to the first component for raising the temperature of the adhesive layer above an activation threshold (AT) and thereafter to apply a second electrical current (I 2 ) to the first component for holding the temperature of the adhesive layer in a predetermined temperature range (TR) above the activation threshold (AT). 
     
     
         18 . The arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined temperature range (TR) is less than a degradation temperature (DT) of the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         19 . The arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein the device comprises a means for applying a mechanical pressure (P) to the surface of the first component and a surface of the second component for a predetermined time duration (t 3 ) during pre-curing the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         20 . The arrangement according to  claim 16 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises by a thermosetting adhesive, the first component comprises a material having an electrical conductivity greater than about 100000 S/m and the second component comprises at least one of a fiber reinforced composite, a plastic, a ceramic, aluminum and magnesium. 
     
     
         21 . A vehicle part that comprises an adhesive layer pre-cured by a method of claim  1 . 
     
     
         22 . A vehicle that comprises a vehicle part of  claim 21 .