Trans Motauto World
Vol. 11 (2026), Issue 2, pg(s) 55-61

TRANSPORT TECHNICS. INVESTIGATION OF ELEMENTS. RELIABILITY

Evaluation of Adhesively Bonded Joints for Repair of Exterior Automotive Plastic Parts

  • 1 Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Automotive Production, Košice, Slovakia
  • 2 Technical University of Košice, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Technology, Materials and Computer Aided Manufacturing, Košice, Slovakia

Abstract

This paper deals with the possibility of renovating exterior plastic automotive components using adhesive bonding technology. The research focuses on the evaluation of the shear strength of adhesive joints formed using adhesive systems commonly applied in automotive repair practice. The experimental investigation was carried out using selected adhesives, and the shear strength of the bonded joints was evaluated. To simulate real operating conditions of vehicles, accelerated laboratory tests were performed in which the bonded joints were exposed to various degradation environments. Subsequently, changes in the shear strength of the adhesive joints were evaluated after their exposure to these conditions. The study also examined the influence of road de-icing agents commonly used in winter road maintenance on the quality and integrity of the adhesive joints. Based on the analysis of fracture surfaces, the failure mechanisms of the joints were identified and classified as adhesive or cohesive failure. The obtained results provide a basis for assessing the applicability of adhesive bonding technology for the renovation of exterior plastic automotive components and contribute to the optimization of repair procedures used in automotive maintenance practice.

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